Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation asks
Extension Service to retain focus on farmers, people
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federationís chief administrator spoke to a House agriculture finance committee Jan. 4 about proposed budget cuts to the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Jim Werner told the committee the serviceís attention to farmers was a valuable resource that needed continued funding. ìThe Extension Service has been an important partner for Minnesota farmers in the past and vice versa,î Werner said.
Many county farm bureaus were formed in the early 1900's so extension agents in counties could work with farmers. ìBecause of farm bureauís long history with the extension service we are very concerned about its future,î Werner said. The University of Minnesota recently called for a reorganization of the Extension Service. The plan calls for service educator to use their expertise regionally, rather than on a county basis. The Farm Bureau sees the Extension Service as a ìpeople business,î Werner said. He said working one-on-one with area residents is important to the success of farm bureaus and the service.
ìWe feel this is especially true in the case of working with young people in programs such as 4-H,î Werner said. Werner said that while the federation will continue to work with the service as it faces a period of transition, he hoped that the service will not lose its focus on agriculture, people and the needs of area farmers.
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