WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Committee on Agriculture and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan and Regional Administrator Debra Shore demanding answers after EPA inspectors performed unannounced feedlot inspections at several farm sites in Winona and Olmsted Counties. 

“It is completely unacceptable that EPA is targeting Minnesota family farmers at the behest of environmental extremists,” said Rep. Finstad. “As a Congressman and fourth-generation farmer, I know first-hand the care with which Minnesota farmers work to conserve their soil and water and pass their livelihood down to the next generation. EPA has demonstrated time and time again that they are unwilling to stand up for American farm families as they work to feed and fuel the world, instead doing the bidding of radical environmentalists at farmers’ expense. I am determined to hold EPA accountable for their reckless conduct.” 

In part, the letter reads: 

“The manner by which EPA conducted these unannounced inspections raises several questions about the agency’s conduct, best practices, and intent, as well as lack of transparency throughout the process…” 

“…Farmers work every day to produce the highest quality, lowest cost food and fuel supply in the world while leaving their soil and water better for future generations. It is critical that EPA works to rebuild trust in farm country by improving methods of communication and transparency.” 

Full text of the letter can be found here. 

Background: 

On April 24, 2023, several organizations with a track record of anti-agriculture environmental activism submitted a petition related to elevated nitrates in eight Minnesota counties throughout the Karst Region. 

The April petition requested EPA prohibit concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from expanding or constructing new operations. Within six months of the petition, EPA inspectors arrived unannounced on the land of Minnesota family farmers, interrogating them, and inspecting their farms over the course of several hours and in the midst of peak harvest season.