MORGAN — Whether or not a farm bill could get done was one of the first talking points of a Farmfest panel between candidates from Minnesota congressional Districts 1 and 2 on Tuesday.
The panel allowed 1st District incumbent Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, of New Ulm, Republican candidate Shawn Tweten, of Mankato, Republican candidate Gregory Goetzman, of Rochester, and DFL candidate Rachel Bohman, of Rochester — along with their District 2 counterparts — to discuss key pieces of agriculture policy ahead of the Aug. 13 state primary.
KDHL Radio Farm Director Jerry Groskruetz moderated.
Congress typically passes a farm bill about every five years; the last one was passed in 2018 and was extended through fiscal year 2024.
Finstad told audience members that the House ag committee has passed a farm bill and described it as bipartisan.
“We really are proud of the fact that we listened to the people. We wanted to make sure the farm bill was written by farmers for farmers,” he said.
Tweten argued that farm bills regularly achieve bipartisan support but said something he dislikes about them is that there’s often restrictions on what can be grown.
“I would like local farmers to have a lot more say in that,” he said.
Bohman argued Congress is overdue on the farm bill.
“One of the reasons I decided to hop in this race is because there’s a difference between someone who actually gets things done and makes progress, and there’s talkers,” she said.
“There is absolutely no reason why the House majority couldn’t find a way to build a bridge with the Democratic Senate and the Democratic president to actually get this done,” Bohman said.
Groskruetz then asked panelists whether the safety net for farmers can be improved.
Bohman said the safety net needs to be improved not just for crop insurance but also for livestock.
“We know that farmers are facing even more issues with livestock, and I want to make sure that we continue to expand on that,” she said.
Finstad said Congress should and must expand the safety net.
“What I heard (in listening sessions) was the need to strengthen crop insurance, to make sure that we make it more accessible, more affordable and we provide more tools in the crop insurance portfolio that allows farmers that ultimate risk-management tool,” he said.
When the discussion turned to future agriculture trade agreements, Tweten said it’s beneficial anytime you can encourage trade and bigger markets getting products out of Minnesota and to the rest of the country and world.
“Any bill that encourages the trade of our livestock, I’m definitely a fan of,” he said.
Bohman said she would support the expansion of the market access program.
“I very much believe in a global market and believe that we need to continue to foster those relationships overseas,” she said.
Frequent rainfall this past year prompted Groskruetz to ask the candidates if there should be a separate disaster program for areas hard hit by rain and flooding.
Finstad said there will be some costs that need to be shared by the federal government.
“As we look at the disaster aid declarations … there is some aid there, but if we do need to add more, I’m willing to lead the charge on that,” he said, adding that conservation programs need to be locally led and farmer friendly.
Goetzman said mitigation is needed for those impacted.
“But we are facing climate change and we have to spread our money around. Why not help the farmers out when they’re under stress?” he said.
Tweten added that disaster relief should also include aid for occurrences like animal-spread diseases.
“Disasters aren’t necessarily limited to just rain or certain types of weather. Being in Minnesota with a lot of deer … it needs to be flexible to even include things like that,” he said.
Bohman also said she would support disaster relief.
“We can’t have you taking all of that risk on your own back. That is just not the way that we want to support you as farmers,” she said, adding that she would back efforts that would help farmers get relief as soon as possible.