West Twin Cities

State Representative Bobbie Harder, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, has responded to a recent decision by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding proposed increases in feedlot permit fees. The MPCA announced that it will rescind previously scheduled fee hikes of 48 and 56 percent, which were set to take effect last Friday.

Harder expressed her reaction in a statement: “I’m relieved to see the MPCA reverse course on these steep feedlot fee increases, but this situation never should have happened in the first place. Rolling out major fee hikes with little to no notice created unnecessary stress for farmers who are already facing tight margins and unpredictable conditions. Minnesota agriculture is the backbone of our rural communities, and our state agencies need to work with farmers, not surprise them with sudden and costly changes.”

The decision by the MPCA comes after concerns from agricultural stakeholders about how abrupt changes could impact their operations. Farmers in Minnesota often face narrow profit margins and variable market conditions, making unexpected cost increases challenging for their businesses.