Minnesota
Minnesotans sweating in farm country as the Farm Bill dies (again)
Still, producers feel the heat, literally. Last Thursday, at the orchard, farmers and state officials in temperatures resembling the State Fair more than late September stood baking under a midday sun while John Jacobson, the orchard’s owner, spoke about missing those average summer temperatures. Instead, the mercuy bounces up and down during the prime growing months.
“Minnesotans are feeling the impact of climate change from higher temperatures to more extreme storms with more intense flooding,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Regarding the political climate, most say the farm bill’s next best chance for passage is the lame-duck session of Congress.
Repeating a refrain he heard from advocates during a recent barnstorming trip to Washington D.C., Lourey said “next year is not our friend,” suggesting few are willing to wait for a new Congress and president in 2025 to decide the bill’s fate.