SF 1840

2nd Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 06/02/2025 01:45 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing a grant program to promote certain nutrient
management practices; 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] MINNESOTA 4R AGRICULTURAL GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish a grant program to promote
the use of nutrient management practices by farmers in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible under this section, an agricultural retailer must
be:
new text end

new text begin (1) licensed under section 18C.415; and
new text end

new text begin (2) certified or making demonstrable progress toward certification under the 4R nutrient
stewardship certification program administered by the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers
Association.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible agricultural retailer seeking funding under this section must apply in the
form and manner established by the commissioner and provide all information required by
the commissioner to confirm the retailer's eligibility.
new text end

new text begin (c) Eligible nutrient management practices are practices that:
new text end

new text begin (1) uses the four R's: the right source of nutrients, at the right rate and right time, in the
right place; and
new text end

new text begin (2) are approved by the commissioner under subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Approved practices. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, the commissioner, in
consultation with agricultural stakeholders, must develop a list of approved 4R nutrient
management practices. Approved practices must be suitable to the location where the practice
is implemented and may include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) soil testing every four years with analysis by a Department of Agriculture certified
lab to determine crop-specific nutrient needs and application rates;
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new text begin (2) use of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, including nitrification inhibitors and urease
inhibitors, to reduce nutrient losses;
new text end

new text begin (3) variable rate nutrient application based on site-specific crop and soil needs;
new text end

new text begin (4) nutrient or manure management plans accounting for all sources of nutrients, including
but not limited to commercial fertilizers, starter fertilizers, manure, litter, biosolids, cover
crops, and the previous crops;
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new text begin (5) in-season nutrient management using real-time crop monitoring and decision-support
tools;
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new text begin (6) recommendations on the timing of fertilizer application to mitigate periods of high
runoff and leaching risk;
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new text begin (7) use of cover crops to improve nutrient cycling and reduce nutrient losses;
new text end

new text begin (8) irrigation water management using local real-time climate data and soil and crop
growth characteristics;
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new text begin (9) implementation of site appropriate edge-of-field practices to minimize nutrient runoff
and reduce soil erosion;
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new text begin (10) erosion management practices such as no-till and reduced tillage;
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new text begin (11) adoption of precision agriculture technologies for ideal nutrient placement and
timing to reduce nitrate movement; and
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new text begin (12) conservation crop rotation with a perennial grown two out of every five years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Payments. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner may award grants to agricultural retailers
that are making demonstrable progress toward certification under the 4R nutrient stewardship
certification program. The commissioner may award an agricultural retailer $5,000 once
the retailer's application for certification is accepted by the Minnesota Crop Production
Retailers Association and the retailer has completed the certification audit required by the
Minnesota Crop Production Retailers Association.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may award grants of up to 50 cents per acre to certified agricultural
retailers that work with farmers to implement approved practices. In addition, the
commissioner may award grants of up to 25 cents per acre to certified agricultural retailers
for nutrient planning developed by a certified crop adviser in good standing with International
Certified Crop Advisers, or a certified professional agronomist in good standing with the
American Society of Agronomy. Before receiving payment under this paragraph, a certified
agricultural retailer must demonstrate to the commissioner's satisfaction that the retailer
implemented approved nutrient management practices or developed approved nutrient
planning.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may award grants to certified agricultural retailers to deliver 4R
training to farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Data privacy. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding section 13.599, information related to
field-specific and grower-identifiable data, such as field maps, fertilizer recommendations,
pesticide application records, soil analysis, yield data, grower names, and contact information
used to document acres submitted for payment in subdivision 4 are classified as nonpublic
data, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 9, and private data on individuals, as defined
in section 13.02, subdivision 12, at all stages of the grant-making process. The commissioner
may prepare and make public statistical records and reports derived from data classified as
nonpublic or private data under this subdivision except that the identity of a particular
grantee must not be revealed or made ascertainable from the prepared records and reports.
new text end

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

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of agriculture to award grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
17.995. The commissioner may use up to ten percent of the appropriation each year to
administer Minnesota Statutes, section 17.995.
new text end