Bill > HF3719

This bill makes the following key changes: 1. Increases funding for various agriculture programs, including protection services, agricultural growth and research, and administration and financial assistance. This includes expanding funding for mental health counseling support for farm families, providing grants to food banks for milk and surplus food purchases, and increasing funding for the Rural Finance Authority's agricultural loan programs. 2. Extends the expiration dates for several agricultural research and education funds and programs from 2020 to 2030. 3. Modifies eligibility and payment requirements for the advanced biofuel, renewable chemical, and biomass thermal production incentive programs, including adjusting biomass sourcing requirements and production thresholds. 4. Establishes a new Rural Energy Feasibility Loan Program within the Rural Finance Authority to provide loans for feasibility studies on renewable energy projects. 5. Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to obtain legislative approval before adopting water resource protection requirements for nitrogen fertilizer. Overall, the bill provides increased funding and extends existing programs to support Minnesota's agriculture industry, biofuel and renewable chemical production, and rural energy development.