Update on the Star Tribune Article & how you can use your voice to help
There was an article about us in the Star Tribune this past week and a lot of people are wondering what is going on and if there is anything they can do to help. Which is so cool and humbling that so many people are committed to us and want to take time from their lives to reach out!
So I thought I’d shoot out a note to let folks know what all is going on and how they can use their voice to help us out!
What’s going on & why does it matter?
We initially bought 3.79 acres 2019 and added 10 more acres last March. We were told this purchase would allow us to change our current classification as residential. We appealed last summer to be reclassified as agriculture but our appeal was denied.
We were denied agricultural classification because cut flowers or floriculture wasn’t explicitly listed as an agricultural product eligible for agricultural classification.
Beyond this, now that we have more than 10 acres in our parcel, the county needs to see 10 acres in agricultural production which is impossible with the natural features on our land—a dry creek bed and hilly, rocky bluffs and road set backs. Plus, I’m currently growing on 2 acres and to scale up to 10 acres wouldn’t be feasible in one year.
Obviously our land taxed at the slightly lower agricultural rate for property taxes would be a boon to our bottom line. But there are advantages to having agricultural classification beyond property taxes.
Wabasha County requires a land use permit for all structures over 200sqft—this includes our hoop houses (even though they are technically impermanent structures with no foundation). They would be agricultural exempt if we were agricultural classified but because we are zoned residential, there is a permitting fee and we have to have a building inspection on them to make sure they are up to MN state building code.
Same with the new workshop space. There were extra fees and permits and inspections required. Even though this building and our hoop houses are very clearly used exclusively for the production of cut flowers, but because cut flowers aren’t currently an explicit agricultural product, we don’t get the benefits other farms take advantage of everyday.
Our current classification has cost us $1000s in the last year in permitting fees alone. So obviously it’s a little bit about the money. But it’s also about the respect. Where do flowers come from if not a farm? What are we doing if not farming?
I testified last week in front of the MN senate tax committee about how there should be space made to include small farms growing cut flowers for market in the property classification statute. This amendment would make a HUGE difference to my farm and to many other flower farmers in the state.
Education is so important to our work as small scale specialty crop growers. Letting the public know “Hey! Local flowers are a thing! And they can be incredibly profitable even on small acreage! We deserve the same benefits that larger farms take advantage of everyday! Just because we look a little bit different doesn’t mean we aren’t out here farming!”
It feels really scary to stick myself out here and to make some waves. But even though this experience has been an emotional rollercoaster, at the end of the day, it is so important to fight for this for my family and for all my friends out there growing flowers.
What can you do?
Contact you representative and senator and tell them you support HF 2654 & SF 2626
Cut flowers should be considered an agricultural product eligible for agricultural classification for property tax and permitting/zoning purposes
Contact your senators and tell them you support SF 1498
Allows smaller scale farms to qualify for agricultural classification with schedule F rather than number of acres in production
SHOP SMALL AND LOCAL WHENEVER POSSIBLE!
