Bill > HF1704

This bill appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture, the Board of Animal Health, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, and the Office of Broadband Development for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and makes policy changes related to agriculture and broadband. * **Department of Agriculture:** * Protection Services: $45,169,000 in FY 2026 and $45,672,000 in FY 2027 from the General Fund and Remediation Fund for various programs including voluntary cleanup, soil health assistance, livestock and crop damage compensation, laboratory equipment, a meat processing liaison, county agricultural inspector grants, and meat/poultry inspection services. * Agricultural Marketing and Development: $24,676,000 in FY 2026 and $24,676,000 in FY 2027 from the General Fund for international trade, dairy development, organic certification cost-share, farmer mental health support, the agricultural growth, research, and innovation program (including county fairs, incentive payments, biofuel infrastructure grants, meat/poultry processing grants, farm-to-institution programs, urban agriculture, and good food access), and cooperative development grants. * Administration and Financial Assistance: $14,980,000 in FY 2026 and $11,121,000 in FY 2027 from the General Fund for payments to agricultural societies, agricultural education and leadership programs, grants to various agricultural organizations, assistance to agriculture-related businesses, food bank support, local food promotion, emerging farmer services, farm advocate services, mental health counseling for farmers, and down payment assistance grants. * **Board of Animal Health:** $6,767,000 in FY 2026 and $6,767,000 in FY 2027 from the General Fund for agricultural emergency preparedness and response, and to maintain current service levels. * **Agricultural Utilization Research Institute:** $4,388,000 in FY 2026 and $4,434,000 in FY 2027 from the General Fund, including funds to maintain current service levels. * **Office of Broadband Development:** $1,001,000 in FY 2026 and $1,001,000 in FY 2027 from the General Fund. * **Transfers:** Significant transfers are made from the General Fund to various accounts, including the pollinator research account, the Minnesota grown account, the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer account (for various research and education initiatives), and the agricultural and environmental revolving loan account. * **Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations:** $125,000 each for livestock compensation and crop damage compensation, available until June 30, 2026. * **Fiscal Year 2025 Transfer:** $1,500,000 transferred from the General Fund to the agricultural emergency account. * **Policy Changes:** The bill amends provisions related to farm down payment assistance grants, defines "commercial nitrogen fertilizer," establishes a biofertilizer innovation and efficiency program, modifies eligibility for advanced biofuel production payments, and updates requirements for safety-qualified underground telecommunications installer certification.