Walz Proposes $10 Million Drought Relief Package For Farmers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz has proposed a $10 million relief package farmers who suffered losses due to the drought that has struck most of Minnesota.

His proposal includes $5 million in rapid response grants for livestock producers and specialty crop farmers. It also includes $5 million for zero-interest disaster recovery loans. But it requires a special legislative session for approval.

Walz said he’s still insisting that Senate Republicans drop a threat to fire Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm if he calls a special session that was already in the works for a $250 million bonus package for frontline workers in the pandemic.