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Minnesota dairy group looks ahead to state legislative session

A Minnesota dairy leader says it is important for farmers to help educate lawmakers about rural issues.

Lucas Sjostrom with Minnesota Milk tells Brownfield Democrats control the state legislature. “We’ve had a Democratic trifecta here, and those people have pushed forward some initiatives that frankly, I think after we have conversations, we’re a lot more aligned than we think we are, but as you go to the Legislature as a freshman legislator and you’re sent by people and you maybe know nothing about farms, you put forth initiatives based on what you saw on YouTube or what you read on the Internet.”

Sjostrom says it’s important for farmers to talk to legislators about their issues and help show them what changes are needed and why. “Frankly, our Democrats are in the urban areas and our Republicans are in the more rural areas right now, so we’re trying to do our best to educate both rural Republicans and urban Democrats and the few of those who are switched about farming because, as everybody knows who listens to this, we’re more generations removed from the farm than ever.”

Sjostrom says Minnesota Milk is watching water quality issues affecting the eastern Twin Cities metro area and nearby farms, and they’re working to get state funding for more conservation projects.

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