Photo by Fritz Busch Loren Dauer, District 1 outreach representative for Congressman Brad Finstad, takes notes Tuesday at a Farm Bill Listening session at Sleepy Eye Brewing Co.

SLEEPY EYE — One by one, constituents in US. Rep. Brad Finstad’s district fired questions at the congressman’s outreach representative during a Farm Bill listening session at Sleepy Eye Brewing Co. Tuesday. And Loren Dauer was busy taking notes as they talked.

The issues raised during the session went beyond the farm bill.

“We also deal with inflation for labor, fertilizer, cleaning supplies, just about everything we use,” said Steve Hoffman of rural New Ulm.

He suggested raising insurance levels to cover added costs.

“We’ve heard about inflation costs and global supply constraints at other listening sessions,” said Loren Dauer, Finstad’s representative.

“There are a lot of countries including New Zealand that a pressuring farmers to cut dairy. I think we should be targeting some of those,” said Jill Nelson of Sleepy Eye. “If we lose dairy exports, we’re really hurting. We can produce so much milk in this country.”

Nelson voiced concern about land sales to buyers who don’t live here. She said area young people who want to buy a farm don’t stand a chance without help for sellers and buyers.

“Foreign land ownership needs to be addressed,” said Steve Hoffman.

“I’m glad to be back in the district, visiting with all you folks,” said Dauer during his introduction. Dauer is a University of Minnesota graduate.

Dauer said five committee hearings for the current farm bill with Sept. 30 authorization, were recently held in Washington. Topics included commodities, supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) food stamps, crop insurance and conservation.

“We want to make sure we’re hearing from you to make sure our legislation is district-driven, not (Washington, D.C.),” said Dauer. “We want to make sure we hear your concerns.”

Regarding future dairy margin changes, Dauer said he’s listening to constituent perspectives.

Concerns included the DMC Dairy Margin Coverage program, a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers that replaced the Margin Protection Program, authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Service Agency projects DMC indemnity payments will continue through October 2023 for the highest level of coverage.

High feed costs were listed as another concern.

A number of farmers complained about labor issues.

“Let’s stop the handouts since COVID. Nobody wants to work,” said Jeri Hanson of Comfrey.

“Farmers have to pay top dollar for untrainable help and people getting handouts. We can’t afford to pay them because of high-priced feed,” said Reynold Dittbenner of Sleepy Eye. “If we train them, they want $20 an hour.”

Dauer said officials are seeing an unparalleled number of CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) applications.

A farmer said that was because CRP was more profitable than farming.

Brown County United Way Executive Director Sandra Juni said 10% of county children come from families with food insecurity.

“SNAP (food stamps) need to be steam-lined for older adults and students. We have to ensure children that need benefits get them. We rely on shelf-stable foods,” Juni said.

New Ulm attorney Matthew Berger of Gislason & Hunter, LLP talked about carbon credit contracts.

Berger said farmers can find plenty of carbon credit contracts by searching for carbon contracts on line or by going to farm trade shows.

“Many times, companies will find you,” said Berger.

“You may be able to get carbon credits for things you are already doing,” Berger added. “Contracts may include things like cover crops, alfalfa, manure injecting and limited till practices.”

He urged farmers to ask for legal help and fully understand a carbon contract before signing it, not afterwards.

“Shop around and find the right contract. If they won’t negotiate find another contract,” Berger said. “Shorter-term contracts with flexible options are often better for you.”