Agriculture remains vital component for the state
GILFILLAN ESTATE — Gov. Mark Dayton touted the importance of agriculture during his speech to Farmfest attendees Tuesday morning at the annual farm show southeast of Redwood Falls.By: Gretchen Schlosser, Associated Press
- Promoting ag
GILFILLAN ESTATE — Gov. Mark Dayton touted the importance of agriculture during his speech to Farmfest attendees Tuesday morning at the annual farm show southeast of Redwood Falls.
One in five jobs in the state is directly or indirectly connected to agriculture, second only to the manufacturing segment of the state’s economy. Dayton pointed to two bills that actually passed during this year’s regular legislative session as evidence of that importance.
“The fact that (the budget bill for the state Department of Agriculture) was the one spending bill that passed in the session shows broad bipartisan support,” he said.
Further, Dayton noted that House File 1, the bill accelerating the state permitting process for agriculture projects, also passed during the regular session.
Legislators agreed on little else this spring and waited until after the 21-day government shutdown to pass the rest of the budget bills.
Dayton was a featured speaker Tuesday on the first day of the agricultural trade show. In addition to exhibits from businesses in the ag industry, the three-day Farmfest features speakers and discussions forums highlighting agricultural topics.
Dayton is going to Korea and possibly China this fall on trade trips, pressing officials there to purchase more of Minnesota’s $16 billion worth of agriculture products. Dayton has been to China seven times, he said, and has been encouraged by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to visit the country which has growing needs for imported grain and meat.
The governor told the producers gathered that he wants his office and the state Department of Agriculture to be “attentive and responsive” to producers. He gave out his home phone number, 651-201-3469, and asked producers to call with concerns.
“I can’t give out Dave Fredrickson’s home phone number, but here’s mine,” Dayton said. “It’s just me and my two German shepherds, Mesabi and Wanamingo, but they don’t know how to answer the phone.”
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