HF 954

1st Committee Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008)

Posted on 12/22/2009 12:38 p.m.

1.1A bill for an act 1.2relating to appropriations; appropriating money to the Board of Regents for 1.3agricultural research; requiring a report. 1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.5    Section 1. new text begin UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL APPROPRIATION; new text end 1.6 new text begin AGRICULTURE. new text end 1.7     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. new text end new text begin The sums new text end 1.8 new text begin indicated in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents of new text end 1.9 new text begin the University of Minnesota for the purposes and the fiscal years designated. new text end 1.10     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Agriculture special appropriation. new text end new text begin $58,000,000 in fiscal year 2008 and new text end 1.11 new text begin $58,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 are for agricultural experiment stations, extension service, new text end 1.12 new text begin and research efforts that demonstrate a renewed emphasis on the needs of the state's new text end 1.13 new text begin production agriculture community and a continued focus on renewable energy derived new text end 1.14 new text begin from Minnesota biomass resources including agronomic crops, plant and animal wastes, new text end 1.15 new text begin and native plants or trees. Priority should be given to developing undergraduate and new text end 1.16 new text begin graduate programming related to renewable energy and agriculture production while new text end 1.17 new text begin maintaining current staff. new text end 1.18     new text begin In the area of production agriculture, priority should be given to projects pertaining new text end 1.19 new text begin to: extending the Minnesota vegetable growing season; alternative and pasture-based new text end 1.20 new text begin livestock operations; fertilizer and soil fertility research and development; treating and new text end 1.21 new text begin curing human diseases utilizing livestock cells; using biofuel production coproducts as new text end 1.22 new text begin feed for livestock; organic research and education; and a rapid agricultural response fund new text end 1.23 new text begin for current or emerging animal, plant, and insect problems affecting production or food new text end 2.1 new text begin safety. In addition, the appropriation may be used to secure a facility and retain current new text end 2.2 new text begin faculty levels for poultry research currently conducted at UMore Park. new text end 2.3     new text begin In the area of renewable energy, priority should be given to projects pertaining to: new text end 2.4 new text begin biofuel and other energy production from small grains; alternative bioenergy crops and new text end 2.5 new text begin cropping systems; and growing, harvesting, and transporting biomass plant material. new text end 2.6     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Report. new text end new text begin No later than February 1, 2009, the Regents of the University of new text end 2.7 new text begin Minnesota or their authorized representative must report on the progress and outcomes of new text end 2.8 new text begin the research projects funded under this subdivision to the house and senate committees new text end 2.9 new text begin with jurisdiction over agricultural finance and higher education finance. new text end