Joe Smentek
Director of Public Affairs
Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Mankato, MN
There seems to be new environmental groups being created everyday attacking everything from what farmers produce to the way in which they produce it. Many dollars are spent lobbying the legislature and local governments trying to put restrictions on farmers. In response, farm groups need to spend large amounts of money to fight the issue du jour. In many cases there are common enemies plaguing both groups. Could working together strategically result in money being spent more efficiently fighting the real problem. Farmers and environmental groups can team up to fight invasive species, reduce the country’s carbon footprint, clean the waters of the state and more by working together.