Rural Issue

Minnesota Corn Growers point to buffer property tax relief

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association is bringing the Buffer Tax Credit back to the forefront ahead of midterm elections.

MCGA president Brian Thalmman says the Minnesota Legislature nearly passed the $50-dollar per-acre property tax credit last spring.

“The hang-up came at the end of the Session as (lawmakers) were looking for the source of funds.”

He tells Brownfield proposed funding through the Clean Water Fund was met with opposition, and the Credit was defeated.

The Association has written candidates for Governor and the Minnesota House of Representatives, expressing the need for compensation by passing the Buffer Property Tax Credit.

“When the Buffer Rule was put into place, the whole purpose proposed was to improve water quality.  We get that.  The challenge is the buffer land used to be income-earning property for the farmer and now it is not.”

Thalmann calls the Credit much-needed because he says the tax is an unfair burden placed on farmers in the midst of five-straight years of depressed farm income.