In posts like State's southeastern Minnesota drinking water fix: grab donuts, coffee, and lobbyists, oh my and Minnesota nitrate pollution update: raise fertilizer fees to help pay cost of nitrate pollution, Bluestem's been following the discussio of how to address the issue of nitrates in Minnesota soil and water.
On Thursday, the Minnesota House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee looked again at the issue, and moved Rep.Rick Hansen's fertilizer tax bill (HF4135) to the next committee.
Here's the Minnesota House Information Service YouTube of the hearing on nitrates and HF4044:
UPDATE: Check out the Star Tribune article on the fertilizer tax:
"We've probably done more than anybody else [to address nitrate pollution]," said @reprickhansen, DFL-South St. Paul, the bill's author. "But it's not working." https://t.co/j3Gda6IHJd
— @MCEA1974 (@MCEA1974) March 1, 2024
[End update]
Coverage of the hearing from the Minnesota Reformer:
Fertilizer tax proposal advances despite opposition from agriculture groups
By Madison McVanA Minnesota House committee advanced a plan Thursday to tax fertilizer and use the proceeds to deliver clean drinking water to areas affected by farm pollution.
The House agriculture committee voted to advance the fertilizer tax bill (HF4135) authored by Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul. It will now move to the House environment committee, which Hansen chairs. The bill still needs to overcome significant opposition — especially from the influential farm lobby — if it’s to become law.
Minnesota state agencies must take action to address farm pollution in southeast Minnesota, or federal authorities have warned they’ll consider enforcement action.
Lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle have proposed two potential solutions to the issue: one largely in line with the state’s current, farmer-approved approach — encouraging farmers to voluntarily implement practices to reduce fertilizer runoff — and another, the fertilizer tax, which would shift the state’s approach to nitrate pollution by placing the cost burden on farmers.
Nitrates are a byproduct of commercial fertilizer and livestock manure, and water polluted with nitrates is a threat to human health. Nitrate pollution is especially prevalent in southeast Minnesota, where the terrain quickly shuttles surface water to underground aquifers.
The committee will hear the farm lobby-approved proposal (HF4044), authored by Rep. Steven Jacob, R-Altura, next week. Jacob’s bill would add a tax credit to the benefits already available for farmers who participate in the existing Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, which certifies producers who take measures to reduce nitrate pollution and prioritizes them in technical and financial assistance programs.
The Hansen legislation would levy a 99-cent fee per ton of nitrogen fertilizer sold to fund an assistance program for people whose private wells are polluted. The fee would increase if the amount of fertilizer sold in the state also increases.
A slew of farm groups testified against the fertilizer tax, including the Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Farm Bureau and the Minnesota Corn Growers’ Association.
“I recognize there is great opposition to this bill. I expect that,” said Hansen, who served on a nitrate pollution task force 35 years ago.
Republicans on the committee expressed concern with adding another cost to farmers’ bottom line, as farm revenue and commodity prices are decreasing.
“Farmers are doing the best they can. Techniques are improving,” said Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck. “I would much rather encourage the incentive approach to this rather than the required fee.”
Nearly three-fourths of the nitrogen in Minnesota surface water originates from cropland, according to data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Drinking water with high levels of nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Nitrates have also been linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a letter in November to the Minnesota agencies tasked with addressing agriculture and pollution — MPCA and the state departments of health and agriculture — stating the state authorities aren’t doing enough to address nitrate pollution.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has long offered programs that reward farmers for voluntarily adopting practices that reduce nitrogen loss. In addition to the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, the state offers grants and loans for farmers to grow cover crops, obtain technology to improve soil health and implement best management practices.
This Minnesota Reformer article is republished online under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Photo: The high level of nitrate in its drinking water is forcing Utica, a small town in Winona County, to drill a much deeper new well. It’s a $2 million project, most of which will be paid for by the federal government. The nitrate problem in southeast Minnesota has gotten so bad that the EPA demanded the state come up with a plan to address it. Star Tribune file photo by Brian Peterson.
Related posts
- Rep. Rick Hansen: After 35 years of process producing more nitrates in water, time to change
- The New Lede: Cancer in the corn belt sparks actions to fight farm chemical contamination
- In amicus brief, five ag groups ask to weigh in on ruling that blocked Daley dairy’s expansion plans
- Will MPCA's Clean Water Council recommend unconstitutional use of Legacy funds for mitigation of nitrate contamination of wells??
- State's southeastern Minnesota drinking water fix: grab donuts, coffee, and lobbyists, oh my
- Agency soup: MPCA, DNR, MDH & Ag release "Preventing fish kills in MN driftless region"
- Minnesota nitrate pollution update: raise fertilizer fees to help pay cost of nitrate pollution
- Land Stewardship Project applauds court’s support of Winona County; launches ‘Story Center Powerline’ initiative for rural residents
- Minnesota district court rules against Winona County dairy expansion; owner will appeal
- Agweek Special Report on Rural Health: 10% of MN private wells pose a health problem
- This is fine: update on MN state agencies' response to EPA letter on karst country nitrates
- Following emergency petition regarding nitrate contamination in SEMN karst region, EPA sees further action needed to protect public health
- On ‘Cancer Road,’ a group of southeastern MN families ask if nitrate exposure is to blame
- Eleven environmental groups petition EPA on nitrate pollution in Southeast Minnesota wate
- Strib scrutinizes MN Department of Ag action on nitrate-related Groundwater Protection Rule
- Nitrates in Southwestern Minnesota water: 'Do not give the water to infants' in Ellsworth
- Commentary from MinnPost: Can the state control nitrates in Minnesota waters?
- Minnesota Department of Health isn’t properly enforcing drinking water law, and kids will suffer
- is far from over
- Packed house at Newburg Township on using local control to protect community, karst
- All citizens are equal, but one thinks he's more equal: massive hog farm shareholder* seeks to prevent August 2 Newburgh Township meeting
- Jean Wagenius: For climate and clean water, state agencies need Walz to lead
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