HF 1446

1st Committee Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/19/2013 07:28pm

1.1A bill for an act

1.2relating to agriculture finance; appropriating money to the University of
1.3Minnesota for agricultural research and extension; requiring report.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5    Section 1. AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION SERVICE.
1.6(a) $53,175,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $52,175,000 in fiscal year 2011 are
1.7appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota
1.8for agricultural research and extension activities.
1.9(b) The Agricultural Experiment Stations and Minnesota Extension Service must
1.10convene agricultural advisory groups to focus research, education, and extension activities
1.11on producer needs and implement an outreach strategy that more effectively and rapidly
1.12transfers research results and best practices to producers throughout the state.
1.13(c) This appropriation includes funding for research efforts that demonstrate a
1.14renewed emphasis on the needs of the state's production agriculture community. The
1.15following areas should be prioritized and carried out in consultation with Minnesota
1.16producer organizations:
1.17(1) vegetable crop research;
1.18(2) fertilizer and soil fertility research and development;
1.19(3) soil, ground, and surface water conservation practices and contaminant reduction
1.20research;
1.21(4) discovering and developing plant varieties that use nutrients more efficiently;
1.22(5) breeding and development of turf seed and other biomass resources in all three
1.23Minnesota biomes;
2.1(6) development of new disease-resistant and pest-resistant varieties of turf and
2.2agronomic crops;
2.3(7) utilizing plant and livestock cells to treat and cure human diseases;
2.4(8) the development of dairy coproducts;
2.5(9) a rapid agricultural response fund for current or emerging animal, plant, and
2.6insect problems affecting production or food safety;
2.7(10) crop pest and animal disease research; developing animal agriculture that is
2.8capable of sustainably feeding the world;
2.9(11) consumer food safety education and outreach; and
2.10(12) programs to meet the research and outreach needs of sustainable and organic
2.11livestock and crop farmers.
2.12(d) This appropriation includes funding for research and outreach on the production
2.13of renewable energy from Minnesota biomass resources. The following areas should
2.14be prioritized and carried out in consultation with Minnesota producer and bioenergy
2.15organizations:
2.16(1) biofuel and other energy production from perennial crops, small grains, row
2.17crops, and forestry products;
2.18(2) alternative bioenergy crops and cropping systems; and
2.19(3) biofuel coproducts used for livestock feed.
2.20(e) This appropriation includes funding for analysis of livestock facility siting and
2.21regulatory models from other states and countries and the following aspects of ethanol
2.22production in Minnesota:
2.23(1) water use trends as compared to other industries and activities;
2.24(2) the carbon balance of ethanol production;
2.25(3) the effect of ethanol blending requirements on transportation fuel prices; and
2.26(4) the economic impacts of ethanol production and use including such measures as
2.27employment, economic output, and state and local tax revenues.
2.28(f) This appropriation may be used to establish and maintain a statewide organic
2.29research and education initiative, secure a facility and retain current faculty levels for
2.30poultry research currently conducted at UMore Park, develop and implement a dairy
2.31producer continuing education program and for scoping a new dairy research and teaching
2.32facility.
2.33(g) By February 1, 2011, the Board of Regents must submit a report to the legislative
2.34committees with responsibility for agriculture and higher education finance on the status
2.35and outcomes of research and initiatives funded in this section.