HF 2487

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/18/2019 10:23pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing a grant program for Minnesota corn and soybean
farmers who plant seeds that do not contain systemic insecticides; 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 [17.131] ON-FARM SEED TREATMENT EVALUATION GRANT
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a grant program for
Minnesota corn and soybean farmers who plant corn or soybean seeds that do not contain
systemic insecticides.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) A farmer eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be a Minnesota corn or soybean farmer; and
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new text begin (2) not have received a grant pursuant to this section, except for an application for a
grant renewal.
new text end

new text begin (b) Qualifying acres pursuant to this section must:
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new text begin (1) be located in Minnesota;
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new text begin (2) be fully planted with corn or soybean seed during a grant year;
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new text begin (3) have been fully planted with corn or soybean seed treated with or otherwise containing
one or more systemic insecticides in the previous growing season, except for an application
for a grant renewal; and
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new text begin (4) have never been claimed as a basis for a grant pursuant to this section, except for an
application for a grant renewal.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Awarding of grants. new text end

new text begin (a) An application for a grant must be made to the
commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner. An applicant must provide
documentation demonstrating the eligibility of any acre for which a grant is sought.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall award grants by the end of each calendar year to applicants
who demonstrate their intent to comply with the program requirements.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner shall award grants on a first-come, first-served basis, provided
that farmers seeking a grant renewal must receive priority over first-time applicants.
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new text begin (d) The commissioner shall only consider applications requesting grant money for use
on a minimum of 40 but not more than 800 qualifying acres.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grant renewal. new text end

new text begin Grants may be renewed each year for up to two successive
years after the initial grant year provided that the grantee has and continues to comply with
all program requirements. Qualifying acres on which a systemic insecticide has been used
during a grant year is not eligible for renewal.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Payment amounts. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall award grantees $15 per qualifying
acre of corn and $5 per qualifying acre of soybean.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Program requirements. new text end

new text begin During the grant year, grantees must:
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new text begin (1) plant all qualifying acres with corn or soybean seed that do not contain a systemic
insecticide;
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new text begin (2) not use any other systemic insecticide treatment on qualifying acres for at least three
weeks after planting;
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new text begin (3) keep records demonstrating compliance with clauses (1) and (2), including:
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new text begin (i) copies or photos of seed labels;
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new text begin (ii) receipts of seed purchase with purchase dates clearly indicated;
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new text begin (iii) dates of plantings; and
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new text begin (iv) maps clearly indicating the relevant planted acres; and
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new text begin (4) make all records required under clause (3) available for inspection by the
commissioner as requested.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Forfeiture. new text end

new text begin Grantees shall forfeit and return to the commissioner any grant
payments received pursuant to this section for all qualifying acres for which the program
requirements were not met during a grant year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section:
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new text begin (1) "systemic insecticide" means any chemical active ingredient intended to kill or
otherwise harm insect or invertebrate wildlife and designed or intended to translocate into
the tissues of plants, including but not limited to acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran,
fipronil, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, sulfoxaflor, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam; and
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new text begin (2) "grant year" means the year with the growing season for which a grant or grant
renewal is sought.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
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new text begin $350,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of agriculture to provide for grants under Minnesota
Statutes, section 17.131.
new text end