SLEEPY EYE — The Minnesota Farmer’s Union (MFU) hosts a People’s Town Hall at Sleepy Eye Brewing Wednesday, March 18.

The free, public event co-hosted by the Brown, Redwood and Cottonwood County Farmers Union chapters invites individuals to gather for pizza and hear from MFU members and anyone else interested starting at 5:30 p.m. A meeting with speakers begins at 6:30 p.m.

With the farm bill still pending and uncertainty surrounding its future, MFU invites members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to attend.

Redwood County Farmers Union Vice President Paul Sobocinski talked about other issues farmers are dealing with now.

“Gasoline and fertilizer prices are going sky high because of tariffs and now the war. Things are going out of wack fast,” he said.

Sobocinski said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen is expected to speak at the event.

MFU President Gary Wertish talked about other agriculture issues for farmers and everyone else.

“Across the state, Minnesotans are coping with challenges and managing uncertainty. Grocery prices keep rising while the prices paid to farmers are stagnant or falling,” said Wertish. “Some farmers are struggling to get financing to plant a crop this spring. Health care premiums jumped again in the new year, forcing some people to go without health insurance because they can’t afford to pay the premium.”

Wertish said at the same time, it’s getting harder just to access healthcare with clinic closures across the state.

“Now, some families are afraid to leave their home to go to work or event school,” he said. “We want to hear directly from MFU members and others on how elected officials at the state and federal level can help them meet their needs and build strong, rural communities.”

Farmers Union priorities at the Minnesota Legislature include securing more funding for the Rural Finance Authority to support beginning farmers, addressing insufficient funding for the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, which helps retiring farmers transition to beginning farmers, and extending the Minnesota Farmer Lending program which is an opportunity for farmers to restructure or resolve farm debt through mediation.

Pre-registration is requested at bit.ly/PeoplesTownHall.