HF 1446

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:51am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture finance; appropriating money to the University of
Minnesota for agricultural research and extension; requiring report.

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

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