HF 3292

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 05/16/2023 11:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing a soil-healthy farming mentorship grant
program; appropriating money for grants promoting soil health practices.

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

Section 1. new text begin DEFINITIONS.
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new text begin (a) "Soil health" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 103C.101.
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new text begin (b) "Soil-healthy farming" means farming that improves soil health by integrating one
or more of the following practices:
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new text begin (1) no-till;
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new text begin (2) cover cropping;
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new text begin (3) perennial cropping;
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new text begin (4) interseeding;
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new text begin (5) organic production;
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new text begin (6) roll crimping; and
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new text begin (7) managed rotational grazing.
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Sec. 2. new text begin SOIL-HEALTHY FARMING MENTORSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.
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new text begin The Department of Agriculture must administer a soil-healthy farming mentorship grant
program to award funding to organizations, Tribal nations, or individual farmers that will
increase the adoption of soil health practices throughout the state. Grant awards must support
scaling soil health practices for a variety of producers, including but not limited to specialty
crop, livestock, and row crop producers.
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Sec. 3. new text begin SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES; APPROPRIATIONS.
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new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to organizations, Tribal
nations, and individual farmers in Minnesota to increase the adoption of soil health practices
and, if applicable, promote the Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program by, at a
minimum:
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new text begin (1) holding field days with farmers, speakers, and educational events;
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new text begin (2) developing farmer-to-farmer regional soil health hubs; and
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new text begin (3) working with technical assistance providers, including but not limited to Soil and
Water Conservation Districts and the Minnesota Office of Soil Health to provide soil health
adoption and climate resiliency programming for farmers.
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