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Minnesota Farmfest kicks off in Morgan on Tuesday, and a stalled Farm Bill and volatile weather conditions are top of mind for many of the thousands of farmers, agricultural leaders and politicians in attendance. 

U.S. Congress has to pass — or at least pass an extension of — 

 by Sept. 30, but talks have stalled after months of party-line debate. 

Funding for nutrition programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and farm support programs are at the center of the debate over the normally bipartisan and sprawling legislation, which also encompasses 

 president, said it goes far beyond its reputation as a safety net bill for farmers. 

“It’s really a real development bill too. There’s a lot of money that goes into really rural communities,” he said, fingering regional differences for this year’s stall. “And now we’re into heavy into presidential politics, so it’s going to be tough to get it across the finish line.” 

challenge Minnesota agriculture, farmers of color

from heavy rain and flood water

some hope for changes to support sustainable farming

Wertish told MPR News the biggest unknown is whether there’ll be a short-term extension to the current Farm Bill then left in the hands of a “lame duck Congress,” or a full-year extension that would mean a fresh Congressional makeup and “the whole thing has to start completely all over.” On behalf of the Farmer’s Union, Wertish wants a “good farm bill” rather than a quick one. 

“It’s unfortunate that we haven’t gotten it across the finish line, but … we don’t give up,” Wertish said. “Hopefully we get past the partisanship and get serious and actually get one done.” 

Extremely rainy season after two years of deep drought

The spring and summer of 2024 have seen heavy, sometimes historic, precipitation totals, contrasted with the preceding two years of drought in Minnesota. 

“Right now, your corn and soybeans are really below the cost of production for the farmer. But our inputs have not dropped [and] are still relatively high,” he said. 

What it means for Minnesota, from farming to food stamps

want a better deal from new farm bill

on the farm bill, and more

is a good compromise

 soybeans fetched Minnesota farmers an average of $11.40 per bushel in June, 10 cents below May’s prices and $2.50 lower than June 2023. Spring wheat, corn and hay saw similar drops. Milk, however, was sitting at $23.00 per hundredweight, up $7.30 from last year. 

“It’s pretty hard to cash flow right now,” Wertish added, stressing the Farm Bill was necessary to secure bank loans. 

Farmfest often features political debates and as of Tuesday morning, Gov. Tim Walz was scheduled to speak briefly Wednesday afternoon. 

On Morning Edition, about an hour before presumptive Democratic nominee for president 

Kamala Harris named Walz as her running mate

, Wertish said the Farmer’s Union backed the governor as a good choice for vice president. 

“He’s got a lot of rural roots,” plus experience working on the Farm Bill as a U.S. representative for Minnesota, “so he definitely understands agriculture well,” Wertish said. 

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U.S. Congress has to pass — or at least pass an extension of — the 2018 Farm Bill by Sept. 30, but talks have stalled after months of party-line debate. 


Minnesota Farmer’s Union president on stalled Farm Bill, weather extremes and Walz veepstakes

Farmers are waiting to hear from members of Congress at Farmfest. 

Minnesota Farmer’s Union president on stalled Farm Bill, weather extremes and Walz veepstakes

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