HF 1021

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/21/2019 05:23pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing a dairy producer conservation incentive
program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 17.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [17.995] DAIRY PRODUCER CONSERVATION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program; eligibility. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must administer a dairy producer
conservation incentive program and award grants to participating dairy producers who adopt
or maintain eligible conservation practices that conserve the quality and condition of the
state's natural resources and environment. Eligibility is limited to dairy producers with no
more than 1,000 dairy cows.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible conservation activities. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this program, eligible
conservation activities only include the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) preventing the discharge of animal manure, manure-contaminated runoff, or process
wastewater into a sinkhole, fractured bedrock, well, surface tile intake, mine, quarry, or
other natural or constructed channel that conveys fluid to groundwater;
new text end

new text begin (2) locating a feedlot or manure storage area outside of a floodplain, at least 300 feet
from a sinkhole, and at least 1,000 feet from a community water supply well or a well
serving a public or private elementary or secondary school or a licensed child care center
when the school or center is served by a well determined by the commissioner of health to
be vulnerable;
new text end

new text begin (3) preparing and maintaining a manure management plan;
new text end

new text begin (4) hauling manure on federal, state, or local highways, roads, or streets in a manner
that prevents leaking, spilling, or otherwise depositing manure within the right-of-way;
new text end

new text begin (5) preventing dairy cattle from entering a lake classified by the commissioner of natural
resources as a natural environment lake, recreational development lake, or general
development lake;
new text end

new text begin (6) designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating liquid manure storage areas in
a manner that prevents manure-contaminated runoff;
new text end

new text begin (7) locating and constructing manure stockpiling sites so that manure-contaminated
runoff from a site does not discharge to waters of the state;
new text end

new text begin (8) not using a rock quarry, gravel or sand pit, bedrock, or mining excavation site to
stockpile manure;
new text end

new text begin (9) contracting with a certified animal waste technician or directly applying manure and
process wastewater to land in a manner that does not pollute waters of the state; and
new text end

new text begin (10) contracting with a certified animal waste technician or directly limiting manure and
process wastewater application rates so that the estimated plant-available nitrogen from all
nitrogen sources does not exceed expected crop nitrogen needs for nonlegume crops and
expected nitrogen removal for legumes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Payment amounts. new text end

new text begin An eligible dairy producer may apply for a grant and must
apply in the form required by the commissioner. On an annual basis, the commissioner must
award a grant of:
new text end

new text begin (1) $....... to a dairy producer who certifies adoption or maintenance of one to three
eligible conservation activities;
new text end

new text begin (2) $....... to a dairy producer who certifies adoption or maintenance of four to seven
eligible conservation activities; and
new text end

new text begin (3) $....... to a dairy producer who certifies adoption or maintenance of eight or more
eligible conservation activities.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2020 and $....... in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of agriculture for purposes of this act.
new text end