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Walz budget proposal address many ag challenges

Governor Tim Walz says his budget proposal addresses many of the challenges facing Minnesota farmers.

“Healthy rural communities help the farm economy and vice versa. Making sure those schools take the pressure off of property tax, making sure with local government aid (to) again take the pressure off property tax. So that we can have thriving communities that are investing.”

In addition to property tax relief, the Governor’s budget also supports rural mental health by providing one-on-one farmer counseling, additional advocates to help farmers through difficult financial situations, and a 24-hour farm and rural helpline.

Walz says his budget would compensate those who’ve had land taken out of production to comply with the Buffer Law, proposing a $50 per-acre tax credit.

“And I recognize that probably won’t make everybody whole again, but many people were already doing this anyway. What it’s meant to do is just show the real commitment and that we have partners in this. The ag community matters, and when we make a decision like that, we want to make sure they are heard.”

Other ag priorities included in Walz’s budget proposal are tax conformity to Section 179 and a multi-pronged approach to lower healthcare costs.