Bill > HF4885

This bill modifies agriculture policy and funding, requiring reports, and appropriating money for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026. * **Protection Services Appropriations:** * $399,000 from the remediation fund for administrative funding of the voluntary cleanup program. * $639,000 for the soil health financial assistance program. * $275,000 for compensation for livestock destroyed or crippled by wolves. * $255,000 for compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk. * $825,000 to replace capital equipment in the Department of Agriculture's analytical laboratory. * $750,000 for additional meat and poultry inspection services. * $500,000 for grants to counties to support county agricultural inspectors. * $250,000 to establish and administer the biofertilizer innovation and efficiency program. * $75,000 for an evaluation of the Olmsted County groundwater protection and soil health initiative. * $420,000 to support current services. * **Agricultural Marketing and Development Appropriations:** * $634,000 for the continuation of the dairy development and profitability enhancement program. * $100,000 for mental health outreach and support to farmers and farm workers, and for farm and farm worker safety grant and outreach programs. * $700,000 for the local food purchasing assistance grant program. * $1,000,000 to expand the Emerging Farmers Office and provide services to beginning and emerging farmers. * $18,257,000 for the agricultural growth, research, and innovation program. * Within the agricultural growth, research, and innovation program: * $1,000,000 for distribution to each of the state's county fairs. * $3,000,000 for incentive payments. * $2,750,000 for grants to enable retail petroleum dispensers to dispense biofuels. * $350,000 for grants to facilitate the startup, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities. * $1,594,000 for providing more fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, grain, and dairy for children in school and early childhood education settings. * $1,750,000 for grants to facilitate the development of urban agriculture. * $1,000,000 for the food retail improvement and development program. * $200,000 for cooperative development grants. * $250,000 for the protecting livestock grant program for producers to support the installation of measures to prevent the transmission of avian influenza. * $525,000 to award AGRI Works grants to institutions and organizations. * **Administration and Financial Assistance Appropriations:** * $474,000 for payments to county and district agricultural societies and associations. * $300,000 for grants to the Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council. * $1,250,000 to award and administer farm down payment assistance grants. * $1,000,000 for the purchase of milk for distribution to Minnesota's food shelves and other charitable organizations. * $260,000 for a pass-through grant to Region Five Development Commission for statewide mental health counseling support to Minnesota farm operators, families, and employees. * $137,000 to support current services. * $337,000 for farm advocate services. * $3,000,000 for transfer to the Public Facilities Authority for a grant to First District Association for a wastewater treatment project. * $50,000 for a study of market and workforce factors related to underground telecommunications infrastructure installation. * $50,000 for a study and recommendations for an incentive-based program to support agricultural retailers in promoting 4R nutrient management practices. The bill also modifies various agriculture-related statutes concerning definitions, duties of the commissioner, civil liability, access and entry for inspections, notice of inspection samples, inspection requests, enforcement, false statements, cancellation of registrations, service of orders, unsatisfied judgments, crediting of penalties and fees, processing of industrial hemp, processing locations, licensing for industrial hemp, definitions and requirements for seed potato certification, grading, and fees for food handler licenses.