I've contacted Reps Tim Walz and Colin Peterson and Sen Amy Klobuchar, all members of Minnesota's delegation who sit on their respective Agriculture committees. (Peterson chairs the House Ag Committee).  I've asked them two questions.  Do you believe Jack Hedin has a legitimate complaint?  What are you going to do about it?  
Earlier today I happened to receive an announcement for Rep. Peterson's Home Grown Economy Conference to be held at UM Crookston on March 30-31.  It ended with the the following quote from him:

 "In my role as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, I've emphasized the importance of the growing markets for organic, locally grown and sustainable agriculture as exciting new opportunities in agriculture," Peterson said. "I'm pleased that the House version of the Farm Bill includes the establishment of a new subcommittee to focus on organic food production and Farm Bill programs to help organic and local producers. "

That's a nice paragraph.  Lovely sentiments.  I asked for some legislative action to implement them.

Its easy enough to contact any legislator, ask them to read this Op-Ed, let you know whether they agree with it and tell you what they are going to do about it.  

excellent writing by Mr. Hedin. Really articulates the problem and points out some parts of the farm bill I was unaware of.

Always a positive thing contacting your rep, making sure they know your feelings, and happy to see Rep. Peterson have such positive things to say about small farms, local ag and sustainability.

But establishment of a subcommittee, I can firmly say as a businessman of many years, accomplishes exactly squat.

Easy it is indeed to talk to them. Much harder to get an effective response.  Kinda like the weather: everybody talks about it, but nobody actually DOES anything about it.

Peace, kmf ___________________________________________________________________ A meal is a terrible thing to waste