Agriculture and Rural Affairs
The bipartisan, interstate and binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on policies related to agriculture, a critical sector across the MLC region. This committee also is exploring challenges and opportunities for rural communities in the Midwest. Under the direction of the committee’s officers and members, the committee’s activities include ongoing policy research, agriculture-focused webinars and in-person meetings.
The committee is made up of legislators from the states and provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee has four officers: North Dakota Sen. Paul Thomas and Nebraska Sen. Teresa Ibach, co-chairs; and Illinois Rep. Brad Fritts and Minnesota Sen. Robert Kupec, co-vice chairs. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Becky Leis.
The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee last met and led sessions in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on July 27-30.
2023-2024 biennium summary
In 2023-2024, the MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee was led by Saskatchewan MLA Steven Bonk and Kansas Sen. Marci Francisco, co-chairs; and North Dakota Rep. Paul Thomas, vice chair. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee:
- organized in-person meetings on topics such as managing soil health, dual-use practices for solar energy systems, and the legal and regulatory implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Chevron decision;
- led a tour of 2024 MLC Annual Meeting attendees to see agrivoltaics practices at the Savion Solar Project outside of Columbus, Ohio, and to observe the use of precision irrigation and fertilizer equipment at The Ohio State University’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center;
- held webinars on avian influenza in domestic livestock, anaerobic manure digesters, and rural tech-workforce development;
- initiated MLC resolutions on the federal farm bill and food security;
- contributed policy articles to the CSG publication Stateline Midwest on ownership of farmland by investors and/or absent landlords; new state laws restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land; telehealth policy options for states; heirs’ property laws; and the rise of ‘“right to repair” laws; and
- developed a policy resource on the siting of wind and renewable energy projects.
In conjunction with the 79th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saskatoon, Sask., the MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee will meet and lead policy sessions. The MLC Annual Meeting is being held July 27-30.
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Led by The Council of State Governments' Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, this webinar focused on the current economic pressures on agricultural businesses, big and small.
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This bipartisan event brings together the nation's legislators and other key leaders to explore policies related to agriculture, natural resources and the needs of rural communities. Hosted by State Agriculture and Rural Leaders, or SARL, the summit gets support from The Council of Governments and the National Conference of State Legislatures. It was held Jan. 3-5, 2025, in Des Moines.
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Successful community development efforts are rarely the byproduct of a single company or person. It is through the collaboration of different industry partners, educational institutions and workforce development specialists working in the field that communities can develop effective strategies. During this webinar, experts from the Center on Rural Innovation shared their insights on how policymakers can build these partnerships.
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The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee last met and led sessions and policy-focused site visits at the…
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