HOME  E-DEMOCRACY 98  E-DEBATE WEB MN-FORUM

Ken Pentel      Response 9

Question 9: Describe briefly what you feel is the greatest challenge facing Minnesota farmers right now. Outside of lobbying the federal government for support, specifically describe three actions, programs, or laws that you would support as governor to meet the farm crisis. If your programs involve new state expenditures, how would you pay for them?

The political and economic control corporate agriculture has over the
water, soil, seed, chemical, milling, transport and distribution of
our food supply.

The Department of Agriculture would set up a mediation team to
negotiate debt. We would not allow one more farmer to be run off the
land.

We would strengthen the corporate farm law so the greatest
political and economic benefits go to the smaller and environmentally
responsible farms. This would put corporate excess in check.

We would set up The Farm Trust and Economic Diversification
Program for rural and metro Minnesota. This program would have
criteria that supports organic and community supported agriculture,
wet land preservation and restoration, wildlife protection and
grazingover concentrated feedlots. Meeting all or any of these goals
will lead to farm trusts so farmers pay no property tax. People
willing to restore and maintain the health of our fresh water and rich
soil should be rewarded.

The economic diversification would transition production on the
farm to fiber for high-grade paper, inks, dyes, clothing,
transportation and electrical fuels along with windmills on the land.
All of this along with food production would be part of a stable
economic vision for farm communities and metropolitan regions well
into the future.

Any increase in cost would be paid for by a fee on pesticides,
herbicides and chemical fertilizers so we can more accurately reflect
the whole cost of what deteriorates Minnesota's quality of life.