THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> Eric: WE'LL STAY TUNED.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> ERIC: STATE POLICYMAKERS ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FEDERAL FUNDING.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING TO MINNESOTA IN A BUDGET YEAR ARE AT RISK IN THE FEDERAL FREEZE.

AFTER PUSHBACK, SOME OF THE MONEY IS STARTING TO RETURN TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES A DEEPER LOOK INQUIRING IF AG ISSUES CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE TRADITION OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

[ CHANTING ] >> Mary: OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL PROTESTORS TOOK ON ELON MUSK AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BUDGET CUTS AND THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY IN DAYS OF DIFFERENT RALLIES.

>> IT IS STANDING-ROOM ONLY OF THE THREE FLOORS OF THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA.

>> Mary: FOR A FRESHMAN FROM FARM COUNTRY, IT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN.

>> THAT EXPERIENCE I HAD GROWING UP ON THE FARM, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE IS TO THIS STATE, ESPECIALLY WHERE I IVE.

>> Mary: WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT FEDERAL FARM MONEY BEING FROZEN, BUT STATE POLICYMAKERS ARE SAYING THEY'RE STANDING BEHIND THE FARMERS, LOCAL POLICY.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN?

>> THERE CLEARLY IS A BIG DIFFERENCE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE PROBABLY IN FOR SOME INTERESTING TIMES, WHAT'S COMING OUT OF WARRANT, AND, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP CAMPAIGNED, HE WAS GOING TO BE A DISRUPTER AND E WAS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS.

>> Mary: BUT FARMERS VOTED FOR HIM.

>> FARMERS VOTED FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

FARMERS WILL STICK WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I JUST GUARANTEE.

>> Mary: THIS HA TO HAVE BEEN A SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR YOU, FIGURING OUT THE FEDERAL IMPACT.

>> IT REALLY IS.

I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST NTERESTING, BECAUSE, LIKE PRESIDENT'S DAY NOTHING KIND OF HAPPENED BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN.

BUT IT'S ALMOST AN HOUR TO HOUR, MINUTE TO MINUTE, DAY TO DAY, YOU KNOW, SEEING THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WHO'S BEING, YOU KNOW, FURLOUGHED OR LAID OFF.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT FARMERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF MINNESOTA FARMERS THAT ARE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE BECAUSE OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS PROMISED AND NOW NOT DELIVERED.

>> IT REALLY IS.

YOU ALMOST HAVE TO GO BACK A LITTLE WAYS, OUR FARM ECONOMY, IN SOME CASES, IS NOT VERY -- COULD BE STRONGER AT THIS MOMENT.

>> Mary: THE STATE AG DEPARTMENT SAYS IN TOTAL, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE FROZEN FOR MINNESOTA FARMERS, LIKE SMOOTY SUNFLOWERS.

COMMISSIONER PETERSON IS REACHING OUT TO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF MINNESOTA EYE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES AND DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE LEAD POSITIONS ON AG COMMITTEES.

>> WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND WILL THESE ORDERS JUST SLOW IRA DISBURSEMENTS, IMPACT FARMERS LOOKING TO USE VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS?

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OUR ADMINISTRATION'S HEART IS WITH THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES.

IN ENSURING THAT THERE'S FULL UNDERSTANDING AND DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT THIS WILL DO.

>> Mary: IN OUR MANY DECADES COVERING THE CAPITOL, WE'VE SEEN MORE THAN ONE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND A BEVY OF SPECIAL SESSIONS IN BUDGET YEARS, WHICH THIS ONE IS, AND OFTEN THE FIRST BILL AGREED UPON IS AGRICULTURE.

FOLKS ARE ALREADY TALKING, SPECIAL SESSION, POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THAT BUDGET WRAPPED UP IN TIME.

CAN YOU GUARANTEE AG ILL STILL BE THE FIRST THING DONE?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M AN OPTIMIST.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AG COMMISSIONER IF I WASN'T.

BUT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE.

>> Mary: THIS NEW LAWMAKER REPLACED ONE OF THE LAST SELF-DESCRIBED REPUBLICAN MODERATES IN RURAL MINNESOTA, WHO ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

HE WAS NOT AFRAID OF BEING MODERATE.

>> SURE.

>> Mary: AND THAT GOVERNMENT COULD DO GOOD THINGS.

THAT'S NOT SO POPULAR RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY DIVISIVE PLACE, AS YOU KNOW.

WHICH IS SAD THAT IT IS -- THAT IT HAS BECOME.

BUT I'M CONSERVATIVE, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND TO SERVE.

I BELIEVE FARMERS ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A LOT OF US SEE SOME REAL CHANGE HAPPENING IN GOVERNMENT.

>> THERE BEING 66 AYES AND 67 NAYS, THE BILL DOES NOT PASS.

>> Mary: AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR FIRST TEST TO TRY TO PASS A BILL OFF THE FLOOR, WITH THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT NECESSARY IN THIS UNIQUE CLASS OF LAWMAKERS THAT NOW INCLUDES SEVERAL FARMERS.

IT IS USUALLY THE FIRST BUDGET BILL DONE.

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: USUALLY THE MOST BIPARTISAN THING.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Mary: HOW EXCITED AND HOW SPECIAL IS AGRICULTURE?

IS IT STILL?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD SAY, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S NUMBER THREE IN GDP IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE RANK UP THERE AS EITHER THE SECOND OR THIRD LARGEST EMPLOYER OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

AGRICULTURE, SINCE THE FOUNDING OF MINNESOTA, HAS HELD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE HERE.

AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK PERSONALLY IS A VERY BIPARTISAN BILL THAT PEOPLE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO BECAUSE IF YOU EAT, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AG.