Minnesota Corn Growers Association

 

Minnesota’s ag sector has come together to urge the Minnesota Legislature to pass full Section 179 conformity during an August special session. Ten groups, including the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), signed onto a letter delivered to caucus leaders Monday imploring each to provide farmers tax certainty through Section 179 conformity.

During the latest special session, a proposed $1.8 billion bonding and tax bill was set to include full Section 179 conformity. While an agreement was reached on the bill by majority caucuses in both the House and Senate, it failed to receive the require three-fifths majority in the House.

The inability of legislators to move the bill passed the finish line was a major disappointment for Minnesota’s ag sector, which has already been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and trade disruptions.

The letter, which you can read in full here, emphasizes the need for legislators to cooperate and fix a broken policy that left farmers with significant tax burdens at a time when farm income is at an all-time low.

“Farmers are already dealing with significant economic stress due to COVID-19 and trade disruptions. While there might be no easy solutions to these headwinds, House and Senate leaders can at least provide some certainty for farmers by passing full Section 179 conformity. Time is of the essence to get this done,” MCGA President Les Anderson said in a release announcing the letter sent to legislators.

If a deal is struck or Gov. Walz extends his emergency powers in August, there is potential for a third special session in the next couple of weeks. MCGA will continue working with other agriculture groups to elevate the importance of finding agreement on Section 179 conformity for Minnesota farmers.

Along with MCGA, other signees on the letter include Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Pork Producers, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Minnesota AgriGrowth, Ag Country Farm Credit Services, Compeer Financial and Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association.