Legislation introduced this month would fund the Working Lands Drinking Water Program. The program will help farmers plant and sell alternative crops that protect drinking water while maintaining farm profitability. As a pilot initiative, it's limited to the state's most vulnerable wellhead areas — places where conservation crops can protect public health. >>
Water and Legislative Updates Blog
FMR is proud to be a leading voice to protect the water of our Big River, and all the people and wildlife who depend on it.
Our Water Blog strives to keep you up to date on important water-quality issues, from the banks of the Mississippi to the halls of the Legislature. (For political animals, here's a legislative-content-only version.)
Blog updates are also shared on social (Facebook and Twitter) and in FMR's Mississippi Messages newsletter.
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February 19, 2019
On Tuesday, Gov. Walz announced his state budget proposal. We took a look at how our priorities for the river and clean water fared. Our take-away so far? We have some work to do. New investments in environment and agriculture were minor and failed to include full funding for the few initiatives that are essential to achieving Minnesota's clean water goals. >>
February 12, 2019
To get to our clean water goals in Minnesota, we need to plant more perennial and cover crops. But these crops need to be profitable before farm operations can effectively make the change. To address this challenge, two bills were introduced in mid-February in the house and senate that will fully fund the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative. >>
January 28, 2019
Join us for Water Action Day 2019, a day of public action and advocacy to let lawmakers know we care about our water! #ProtectOurWater >>
January 25, 2019
In late January, a key House committee approved legislation to fix last year’s controversial raid on Minnesota’s Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. FMR lobbyist Molly Pederson testified in support of the bill. >>
January 3, 2019
Kicking off the return of our annual Legislative Blog, here's a summary of FMR's top three legislative priorities this session: Forever Green, Working Lands and fixing the Environmental Trust Fund raid. >>
January 2, 2019
While we're sad to see Josephine Marcotty leave her post as the Star Tribune's long-time environmental reporter, we're grateful for her parting "Water Pressure" series.
If you've been saving up your free, online-access Star Tribune stories, this trio is worth the clicks. >>
December 13, 2018
FMR was one of 186 national, state and local organizations to thank Congress for strong conservation provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and urge its timely passage. >>
December 11, 2018
Lead ammunition can poison scavenger birds like bald eagles. The Raptor Center works to save these birds, but the best solution would be for hunters to switch to non-lead bullets. >>