1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; establishing an emerging farmer account; funding an 
1.3 	emerging farmer office and outreach coordinator; appropriating money for emerging 
1.4 	farmer grants; transferring money; requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2020, section 17.055, by adding a subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 17.055, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.8 	to read:
1.9 		Subd. 1a.Emerging farmer account. An emerging farmer account is established in the 
1.10 	agricultural fund. The account consists of money appropriated by law, and any other money 
1.11 	donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise provided to the account. Money in the account, 
1.12 	including interest, is appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes of this section and 
1.13 	must be used to further the objectives of the emerging farmer working group and to support 
1.14 	the emerging farmer office in the Department of Agriculture.

1.15 	Sec. 2. TRANSFER.
 1.16 	$50,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $50,000 in fiscal year 2023 are transferred from the 
1.17 	general fund to the emerging farmer account under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.055, 
1.18 	subdivision 1a.

1.19 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; EMERGING FARMER OFFICE.
 1.20 	$150,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $150,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the 
1.21 	general fund to the commissioner of agriculture to establish an emerging farmer office and 
1.22 	hire a full-time emerging farmer outreach coordinator. The emerging farmer outreach 
2.1 	coordinator must connect ethnic minority and immigrant farmers to farming opportunities 
2.2 	and farming programs throughout the state.

2.3 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION; HMONG AMERICAN FARMERS ASSOCIATION.
 2.4 	$250,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the 
2.5 	general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to the Hmong American Farmers 
2.6 	Association to support emerging farmers. No later than January 15, 2022, and January 15, 
2.7 	2023, the Hmong American Farmers Association must report grant activity and outcomes 
2.8 	to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance.

2.9 	Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; LATINO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
 2.10 	$250,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the 
2.11 	general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to the Latino Economic 
2.12 	Development Center to support emerging farmers. No later than January 15, 2022, and 
2.13 	January 15, 2023, the Latino Economic Development Center must report grant activity and 
2.14 	outcomes to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance.

2.15 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; BIPOC EMERGING FARMER COMPETITIVE 
2.16 	GRANTS.
 2.17 	$200,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the 
2.18 	general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants of up to $75,000 to support 
2.19 	emerging farmers who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color and emerging farmer 
2.20 	organizations led by persons who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. No later than 
2.21 	January 15, 2022, and January 15, 2023, the commissioner must report grant activity and 
2.22 	outcomes to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance.