Menu
.jpg)
Minnesota turkey farmers and industry leaders gathered in St. Paul on February 26th for the 2025 Poultry Day at the Capitol. While at the Capitol, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association (MTGA) members interacted with 34 legislators from both chambers, representing both parties, and commissioners from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Board of Animal Health (BAH). MTGA members and leadership also presented an industry update in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, as well as testified in support of bills of significance to Minnesota’s turkey industry. During their meetings, MTGA members emphasized the need for strong animal health funding, disease prevention efforts, emergency preparedness, regulatory relief for farms, and continued investment in research.
A top priority discussed with all legislators was securing robust funding for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. With three consecutive years of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks, the Board has worked nearly 9,000 hours responding to HPAI in 2024 alone. Without proper funding, essential disease monitoring and response programs will be at risk. With migratory bird season approaching, MTGA members also urged full funding for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Account. A rapid, well-coordinated response to avian influenza is critical to protecting Minnesota’s turkey industry.
During the Minnesota House Agriculture Committee, MTGA leadership testified in support of HF-1101 (Anderson), a bill transferring $1.5 million from the general fund to the ag emergency account, and HF-979 (Anderson), a bill providing a blank appropriation to the Board of Animal Health. Both bills were laid over for possible inclusion in the agriculture omnibus bill. Also, during the House Ag. Committee, MTGA member Erica Sawatzke also testified about her experiences with HPAI and aMPV, further emphasizing the importance of the Board of Animal Health and need for robust funding for that agency.
MTGA also advocated for continued funding of the Wild Bird Deterrent Grant Program, which helps farmers invest in technologies like lasers and sound systems to keep wild birds away from poultry barns. Since wild birds are the primary vector of spreading HPAI, wild bird deterrents are a beneficial addition in addition to robust biosecurity programs. In the Senate Agriculture Committee, MTGA leadership testified in support of SF-1839 (Putnam), a bill providing a blank appropriation for grants to prevent the spread of avian influenza. This bill renews the bird deterrent grant program that MTGA successfully moved through the Minnesota Legislature last session. This bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the Senate agriculture omnibus bill. MTGA member Erica Sawatzke also testified in the Senate Ag. Committee about her experiences with HPAI and aMPV. You can watch the MTGA poultry industry update and testimony in support of SF-1839 on the House Ag committee website.
Regulatory relief for Minnesota farms was another key issue. MTGA is pushing for an exemption from the Earned Safe and Sick Time law for family farms with five or fewer employees, which face unique challenges in compliance.
Finally, continued investment in agricultural research remains a priority. Funding for the AGREETT Fund and the University of Minnesota’s agricultural research programs is essential for addressing emerging poultry diseases and keeping Minnesota’s turkey industry strong.
The 2025 Poultry Day at the Capitol was an opportunity for Minnesota Turkey Growers Association members to engage with legislators and highlight the industry’s economic importance and ongoing challenges. By working together to address these priorities, lawmakers and industry leaders can help ensure that Minnesota remains a national leader in turkey production while protecting farmers, consumers, and the state’s agricultural economy. MTGA will continue working with lawmakers to secure the support needed to sustain Minnesota’s leadership in turkey production.
