Bill > HF3194

This bill appropriates $300,000 ($150,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027) from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture for a grant to the Women's Environmental Institute to develop a farming incubator project specifically designed to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers. The project aims to increase equitable access to food production, organic land, and farming skills through a comprehensive program that includes direct grants to farmers with limited land access, funding for administrative and recruitment costs, hiring a project coordinator, developing farming infrastructure, providing production supplies and equipment, and offering education in regenerative organic farming methods. The bill mandates that one-third of the funding must be allocated to communities outside the seven-county metropolitan area, and the appropriation is a one-time funding that will be available until June 30, 2028. The grants can cover expenses such as land rental, seeds, equipment, marketing, transportation, organic certifications, and other farm-related costs, with a broader goal of supporting aspiring farmers from underrepresented communities in developing sustainable agricultural practices.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3194&ssn=0&y=2025