Milan Hart, a Republican candidate for the Minnesota House District 27A wants readers of the Albert Lea Tribune to Be sure to thank a farmer for food.
There's little arguing with that, although some of Bluestem's readers might draw the line at joining Hart in thanking farmers for ethanol.
The seat is now held by freshman state representative Shannon Savick (DFL-Wells).
And then there's this:
Some people criticize the farmer if he drains swamp land to turn into harvest land. Now I love nature and animals and birds, but put yourself in Mr. Farmer’s place. He pays taxes on that land. He maintains the land and owns the land. Without the government paying him for leaving it swamp land, why should he? Farming is not an easy job and it is not free money. The farmer risks everything every year to keep us all fed and now to keep us going down the road with affordable fuel for our trucks and cars.
UPDATE: A friend in the ag real estate industry writes: I have always believed that the wetlands law for CROP LAND, PASTURE, ETC. was Federal enforced by the USDA. The State program sort of filled in the holes by making non agriculture responsible too.
Actually, it's not so much a matter of criticism as state law, passed in 1991 by the state legislature and signed into law by Republican Governor Arne Carlson. The Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources' Wetland Conservation Act Fact Sheet notes:
Purpose:
To maintain and protect Minnesota’s wetlands and the benefits they provide. To retain the benefits of wetlands and reach the legislation’s goal of no-net-loss of wetlands, the Wetland Conservation Act requires anyone proposing to drain, fill, or excavate a wetland first to try to avoid disturbing the wetland; second, to try to minimize any impact on the wetland; and, finally, to replace any lost wetland acres, functions, and values. Certain wetland activities are exempt from the act, allowing projects with minimal impact or projects located on land where certain pre-established land uses are present to proceed without regulation.
History:
In 1991, reacting to public concern about Minnesota’s disappearing wetlands, the Minnesota Legislature approved and Governor Arne Carlson signed the Wetland Conservation Act, one of the most sweeping wetlands protection laws in the country.
An interim program became effective January 1, 1992. On January 1, 1994, the full program began. The Legislature has amended the WCA many times, mostly to accommodate the varying needs of the different geographic areas of Minnesota.
Administration:
Local government units—cities, counties, watershed management organizations, soil and water conservation districts, and townships—implement the act locally. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources administers the act statewide, and the Department of Natural Resources enforces it.
Other than that, Mr. Farmer can do what he wants we suppose. Hart is a member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, which might have other ideas about draining swamps.
Photo: Milan Hart, Republican House candidate. He also wants volunteers from industry to write laws (13:25 and onward), so Bluestem suspects that he hasn't discovered the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) yet.
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