On Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a relief package that will offer help to certain ag
producers and to the DNR in the wake of last summer’s historic drought.
The bill provides grants, loans, and other direct relief for farmers. The funding is set up for small specialty producers unable to access federal crop insurance, and for livestock producers whose pastures dried up last summer
Additionally, the legislation provides grants to local and tribal governments to replace trees and seedlings killed during the drought and to improve water management.
The bill gives $5 million to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to provide grants up to $10,000 for drought-related expenses. To ensure small operations run by people just starting out in agriculture, immigrants, specialty crop producers, and farmers-market-producers can access the help, Representative Todd Lippert said the bill requires the Ag Department put outreach programs together. Grant recipients will be selected randomly following a five-day hold of applications, improving prospects for farmers with limited internet access or language barriers to receive funding.
Lippert said after a disastrous year, this legislation is long overdue.
“We’re hearing from farmers that they’re still experiencing impacts from the drought. So, livestock farmers are having trouble finding feed. Specialty producers are really worried about getting ready for the year and the bills that are in front of them. So, we want to provide some support. As we’re seeing increased droughts and flooding due to climate change, we want to be there supporting farmers.”
A similar package has been moving through the Senate. Lippert said he expects the two bills to go to conference committee next week.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Todd Lippert can be heard here
NH+C successful with additional services, adding more
Northfield Hospital + Clinics announced last week that Brittany Cordes has joined the hospital’s Birth Center. Cordes
becomes the second midwife on the NH+ C staff, as a part of the expanding services they are providing.
“It’s hard to have a midwifery program with just one midwife, said NH+C President and CEO Steve Underdahl. “That one person gets spread thin pretty quickly, so we are in the process of recruiting and hiring a team of midwifes.”
Underdahl said the hospital’s recently expanded and refurbished birth center is seeing brisk business. Last year 600 babies were born there, which he said can be double the amount seen in other community hospitals of similar size. He said parents are coming from not just Northfield or Rice County but a much larger area for the services they provide, and he said it’s gratifying to see people drive past two other health care centers where they could have their babies to come to the NH+C Birth Center.
This is indicative, he said, of the vision that Northfield Hospital + Clinics has for the kind of evolving care they want to offer.
“Part of the Secret Sauce for Northfield Hospital + Clinics over time has been to always have at least one eye on the horizon. [Thinking,] ‘Where do we need to go next?’ And as our community grows and changes and evolves, and with the fact that we are now a provider for multiple communities, [we have to be thinking about] how do we continue to respond?
Another example of that response is the Wound Healing Center that NH+C opened just over a year ago. In partnership with a group called Healogics, he said they have seen remarkable success in the care they are providing. With a year under their belt, he said they are able to measure that success against a national cohort and are finding themselves in the top 10 of the 600 other national wound healing centers associated with Healogics. He said he is thrilled with this new endeavor, not just because it is a truly meaningful clinical intervention for some people who have really been suffering, but also because it has matured s quickly.
He said NH+C is also looking at a host of digital health care options, as well, not just to enhance their telemedicine program, but to enhance the overall care they can provide. He said if they need to tap the expertise of a specialist in Colorado Springs, there is no reason why that should not be an easy option to do so.
Underdahl said they are also looking at greatly expanding and deepening their mental health and addiction care options.
City Council will meet tomorrow night
Northfield City Council will meet tomorrow night in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 
After the swearing in of a new Northfield Police Officer and a presentation regarding the City’s 1% for th Arts program, the Council will have three items on the agenda.
A resolution will be considered regarding the preliminary plat for the Maple Place development, and another will be discussed and voted on establishing new election precincts and polling places. Finally, Teresa Jensen will be installed as Interim Community Development Director filling the void left by the former director, Mitzi Baker. Baker recently announced her resignation in order to pursue consulting opportunities.
As always, the City Council and the Northfield City Staff are eager to hear the opinions of the public on any matter whether the subject is on the Council agenda or not. There is time allotted at each meeting for the public to address the council on any topic an individual sees fit. Those who do not wish to address the council directly are encouraged to email their councilor or make use of the eComment function which can be found in the “Agendas” section of the city website.
The meeting will begin tomorrow night at 6:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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