Last January, Minnesota state representative David Bly penned a widely-published column about the value of family farms; Bluestem shared it in our post, Northfield Rep. David Bly column: Family farmers are “real ag” and key to rural Minnesota’s future.
On the floor of the Minnesota House on Monday, the House debated and passed the omnibus Ag finance bill. Bly delivered a remarkably eloquent and passionate discussion of the need to look at the big picture when it comes to agriculture policy.
To read about HF1437, check out Session Daily's House passes $84 million omnibus agriculture finance bill. The article summarized Bly's concerns, along with those of South Saint Paul Democrat Rick Hansen:
Rep. David Bly (DFL- Northfield) said the bill did too much to advance the interests of corporate farms and not enough to encourage smaller family farms.
Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) said he did not support the bill because it helped “the interests outside in the hallway rather than the interests outside the building.”
Here's the video of Bly's speech (and the text of his prepared remarks below the YouTube
We asked Representative Bly for the prepared remarks; here they are:
David Bly Looking at Big Picture in Ag Speech
Photo: A supporter and Representative David Bly on a farm road.
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