HF 2200

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/07/2019 02:48pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing a budget for the Department of Agriculture,
the Board of Animal Health, and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute;
amending Laws 2015, First Special Session chapter 4, article 1, section 2,
subdivision 4, as amended; Laws 2017, chapter 88, article 1, section 2, subdivisions
2, 4.

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

Section 1. new text begin AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the general fund, or
another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The
figures "2020" and "2021" used in this act mean that the appropriations listed under them
are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, or June 30, 2021, respectively. "The
first year" is fiscal year 2020. "The second year" is fiscal year 2021. "The biennium" is
fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2020 new text end		new text begin 2021 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 56,165,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 55,760,000 new text end

new text begin Appropriations by Fund new text end
	new text begin 2020 new text end	new text begin 2021 new text end
new text begin General new text end	new text begin 55,766,000 new text end	new text begin 55,361,000 new text end
new text begin Remediation new text end	new text begin 399,000 new text end	new text begin 399,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Protection Services new text end

new text begin Appropriations by Fund new text end
	new text begin 2020 new text end	new text begin 2021 new text end
new text begin General new text end	new text begin 19,985,000 new text end	new text begin 19,905,000 new text end
new text begin Remediation new text end	new text begin 399,000 new text end	new text begin 399,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $399,000 the first year and $399,000 the
second year are from the remediation fund for
administrative funding for the voluntary
cleanup program.
new text end

new text begin (b) $175,000 the first year and $175,000 the
second year are for compensation for
destroyed or crippled livestock under
Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737. The
appropriation for fiscal year 2020 may be
spent to compensate for livestock that were
destroyed or crippled during fiscal year 2019.
If the amount for fiscal year 2020 is
insufficient, the amount in fiscal year 2021 is
available in fiscal year 2020. The
commissioner may use up to $5,000 each year
to reimburse expenses incurred by university
extension agents to provide fair market values
of destroyed or crippled livestock.
new text end

new text begin (c) $155,000 the first year and $155,000 the
second year are for compensation for crop
damage under Minnesota Statutes, section
3.7371. If the amount in the first year is
insufficient, the amount in the second year is
available in the first year. The commissioner
may use up to $30,000 of the appropriation
each year to reimburse expenses incurred by
the commissioner or the commissioner's
approved agent to investigate and resolve
claims.
new text end

new text begin If the commissioner determines that claims
made under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737
or 3.7371, are unusually high, amounts
appropriated for either program may be
transferred to the appropriation for the other
program.
new text end

new text begin (d) $1,110,000 the first year and $1,030,000
the second year are to replace capital
equipment in the Department of Agriculture's
analytical laboratory.
new text end

new text begin (e) $625,000 the first year and $300,000 the
second year are for agriculture emergency
preparedness and response. Of this amount,
$325,000 in the first year is for transfer to the
agricultural fund to increase the balance of the
agricultural emergency account. This amount
is a onetime appropriation. The base for fiscal
years 2022 and 2023 is $300,000 and is for
supporting the Department of Agriculture's
emergency preparedness and response
activities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Agricultural Marketing and Development new text end

new text begin 4,096,000 new text end

new text begin 4,096,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $186,000 the first year and $186,000 the
second year are for transfer to the Minnesota
grown account and may be used as grants for
Minnesota grown promotion under Minnesota
Statutes, section 17.102. Grants may be made
for one year. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations
encumbered under contract on or before June
30, 2021, for Minnesota grown grants in this
paragraph are available until June 30, 2023.
new text end

new text begin (b) $634,000 the first year and $634,000 the
second year are for continuation of the dairy
development and profitability enhancement
and dairy business planning grant programs
established under Laws 1997, chapter 216,
section 7, subdivision 2, and Laws 2001, First
Special Session chapter 2, section 9,
subdivision 2. The commissioner may allocate
the available sums among permissible
activities, including efforts to improve the
quality of milk produced in the state, in the
proportions that the commissioner deems most
beneficial to Minnesota's dairy farmers. The
commissioner must submit a detailed
accomplishment report and a work plan
detailing future plans for, and anticipated
accomplishments from, expenditures under
this program to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance
on or before the start of each fiscal year. If
significant changes are made to the plans in
the course of the year, the commissioner must
notify the chairs and ranking minority
members.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may use funds
appropriated in this subdivision for annual
cost-share payments to resident farmers or
entities that sell, process, or package
agricultural products in this state for the costs
of organic certification. The commissioner
may allocate these funds for assistance for
persons transitioning from conventional to
organic agriculture.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Agriculture, Bioenergy, and Bioproduct Advancement new text end

new text begin 23,600,000 new text end

new text begin 23,600,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $9,300,000 the first year and $9,300,000
the second year are for transfer to the
agriculture research, education, extension, and
technology transfer account under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3. Of
these amounts: at least $600,000 the first year
and $600,000 the second year are for the
Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's
agriculture rapid response fund under
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 1, clause (2); $2,000,000 the first
year and $2,000,000 the second year are for
grants to the Minnesota Agriculture Education
Leadership Council to enhance agricultural
education with priority given to Farm Business
Management challenge grants; $350,000 the
first year and $350,000 the second year are
for potato breeding; and $450,000 the first
year and $450,000 the second year are for the
cultivated wild rice breeding project at the
North Central Research and Outreach Center
to include a tenure track/research associate
plant breeder. The commissioner shall transfer
the remaining funds in this appropriation each
year to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for purposes of Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14. Of the amount
transferred to the Board of Regents, up to
$1,000,000 each year is for research on avian
influenza, including prevention measures that
can be taken.
new text end

new text begin To the extent practicable, money expended
under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must
supplement and not supplant existing sources
and levels of funding. The commissioner may
use up to one percent of this appropriation for
costs incurred to administer the program.
new text end

new text begin (b) $14,275,000 the first year and $14,275,000
the second year are for the agricultural growth,
research, and innovation program in
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12. Except
as provided below, the commissioner may
allocate the appropriation each year among
the following areas: facilitating the start-up,
modernization, or expansion of livestock
operations including beginning and
transitioning livestock operations; developing
new markets for Minnesota farmers by
providing more fruits, vegetables, meat, grain,
and dairy for Minnesota school children;
assisting value-added agricultural businesses
to begin or expand, access new markets, or
diversify; providing funding not to exceed
$250,000 each year for urban youth
agricultural education or urban agriculture
community development; providing funding
not to exceed $250,000 each year for the good
food access program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 17.1017; facilitating the
start-up, modernization, or expansion of other
beginning and transitioning farms including
by providing loans under Minnesota Statutes,
section 41B.056; sustainable agriculture
on-farm research and demonstration;
development or expansion of food hubs and
other alternative community-based food
distribution systems; enhancing renewable
energy infrastructure and use; crop research;
Farm Business Management tuition assistance;
and good agricultural practices/good handling
practices certification assistance. The
commissioner may use up to 6.5 percent of
this appropriation for costs incurred to
administer the program.
new text end

new text begin Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural
growth, research, and innovation program in
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12:
new text end

new text begin (1) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
the second year are for distribution in equal
amounts to each of the state's county fairs to
preserve and promote Minnesota agriculture;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000
the second year are for incentive payments
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16,
41A.17, and 41A.18. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the first
year appropriation is available until June 30,
2021, and the second year appropriation is
available until June 30, 2022. If this
appropriation exceeds the total amount for
which all producers are eligible in a fiscal
year, the balance of the appropriation is
available for the agricultural growth, research,
and innovation program.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner may use up to $2,000,000
per year of the funds appropriated under this
subdivision to award value-added agriculture
grants of between $200,000 and $1,000,000
per grant for new or expanding agricultural
production or processing facilities that provide
significant economic impact to the region.
new text end

new text begin Appropriations in clauses (1) and (2) are
onetime. Any unencumbered balance does not
cancel at the end of the first year and is
available for the second year. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28,
appropriations encumbered under contract on
or before June 30, 2021, for agricultural
growth, research, and innovation grants are
available until June 30, 2024.
new text end

new text begin The base budget for the agricultural growth,
research, and innovation program is
$14,275,000 for fiscal years 2022 and 2023
and includes funding for incentive payments
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16,
41A.17, 41A.18, and 41A.20.
new text end

new text begin $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second
year are for grants to the Southern Minnesota
Initiative Foundation to promote local foods
through an annual event that raises public
awareness of local foods and connects local
food producers and processors with potential
buyers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Administration and Financial Assistance new text end

new text begin 8,085,000 new text end

new text begin 7,760,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $474,000 the first year and $474,000 the
second year are for payments to county and
district agricultural societies and associations
under Minnesota Statutes, section 38.02,
subdivision 1. Aid payments to county and
district agricultural societies and associations
shall be disbursed no later than July 15 of each
year. These payments are the amount of aid
from the state for an annual fair held in the
previous calendar year.
new text end

new text begin (b) $1,000 the first year and $1,000 the second
year are for grants to the Minnesota State
Poultry Association.
new text end

new text begin (c) $18,000 the first year and $18,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
Livestock Breeders Association.
new text end

new text begin (d) $47,000 the first year and $47,000 the
second year are for the Northern Crops
Institute. These appropriations may be spent
to purchase equipment.
new text end

new text begin (e) $267,000 the first year and $267,000 the
second year are for farm advocate services.
new text end

new text begin (f) $17,000 the first year and $17,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
Horticultural Society.
new text end

new text begin (g) $228,000 the first year and $228,000 the
second year are for transfer to the Board of
Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities for statewide mental health
counseling support to farm families and
business operators. South Central College shall
serve as the fiscal agent.
new text end

new text begin (h) $550,000 the first year and $550,000 the
second year are for grants to Second Harvest
Heartland on behalf of Minnesota's six
Feeding America food banks for the purchase
of milk for distribution to Minnesota's food
shelves and other charitable organizations that
are eligible to receive food from the food
banks. Milk purchased under the grants must
be acquired from Minnesota milk processors
and based on low-cost bids. The milk must be
allocated to each Feeding America food bank
serving Minnesota according to the formula
used in the distribution of United States
Department of Agriculture commodities under
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
(TEFAP). Second Harvest Heartland must
submit quarterly reports to the commissioner
on forms prescribed by the commissioner. The
reports must include, but are not limited to,
information on the expenditure of funds, the
amount of milk purchased, and the
organizations to which the milk was
distributed. Second Harvest Heartland may
enter into contracts or agreements with food
banks for shared funding or reimbursement of
the direct purchase of milk. Each food bank
receiving money from this appropriation may
use up to two percent of the grant for
administrative expenses. Any unencumbered
balance does not cancel at the end of the first
year and is available for the second year.
new text end

new text begin (i) $1,100,000 the first year and $1,100,000
the second year are for grants to Second
Harvest Heartland on behalf of the six Feeding
America food banks that serve Minnesota to
compensate agricultural producers and
processors for costs incurred to harvest and
package for transfer surplus fruits, vegetables,
and other agricultural commodities that would
otherwise go unharvested, be discarded, or
sold in a secondary market. Surplus
commodities must be distributed statewide to
food shelves and other charitable organizations
that are eligible to receive food from the food
banks. Surplus food acquired under this
appropriation must be from Minnesota
producers and processors. Second Harvest
Heartland must report in the form prescribed
by the commissioner. Second Harvest
Heartland may use up to 15 percent of each
grant for matching administrative and
transportation expenses. Any unencumbered
balance does not cancel at the end of the first
year and is available for the second year.
new text end

new text begin (j) $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the
second year are for grants to the Center for
Rural Policy and Development.
new text end

new text begin (k) $235,000 the first year and $235,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
Agricultural Education and Leadership
Council for programs of the council under
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 41D.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 5,935,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 6,256,000 new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin AGRICULTURAL UTILIZATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 3,897,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 3,900,000 new text end

Sec. 5.

Laws 2015, First Special Session chapter 4, article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, as
amended by Laws 2016, chapter 184, section 11, Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 2, section
26, and Laws 2017, chapter 88, article 1, section 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 4. Agriculture, Bioenergy, and Bioproduct Advancement

14,993,000

18,316,000

$4,483,000 the first year and $8,500,000 the
second year are for transfer to the agriculture
research, education, extension, and technology
transfer account under Minnesota Statutes,
section 41A.14, subdivision 3. The transfer in
this paragraph includes money for plant
breeders at the University of Minnesota for
wild rice, potatoes, and grapes. Of these
amounts, at least $600,000 each year is for the
Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's
Agriculture Rapid Response Fund under
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 1, clause (2). Of the amount
appropriated in this paragraph, $1,000,000
each year is for transfer to the Board of
Regents of the University of Minnesota for
research to determine (1) what is causing avian
influenza, (2) why some fowl are more
susceptible, and (3) prevention measures that
can be taken. Of the amount appropriated in
this paragraph, $2,000,000 each year is for
grants to the Minnesota Agriculture Education
Leadership Council to enhance agricultural
education with priority given to Farm Business
Management challenge grants. The
commissioner shall transfer the remaining
grant funds in this appropriation each year to
the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for purposes of Minnesota Statutes,
section 41A.14.

To the extent practicable, funds expended
under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must
supplement and not supplant existing sources
and levels of funding. The commissioner may
use up to 4.5 percent of this appropriation for
costs incurred to administer the program. Any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the
end of the first year and is available for the
second year.

$10,235,000 the first year and $9,541,000 the
second year are for the agricultural growth,
research, and innovation program in
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12. No later
than February 1, 2016, and February 1, 2017,
the commissioner must report to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over agriculture
policy and finance regarding the
commissioner's accomplishments and
anticipated accomplishments in the following
areas: facilitating the start-up, modernization,
or expansion of livestock operations including
beginning and transitioning livestock
operations; developing new markets for
Minnesota farmers by providing more fruits,
vegetables, meat, grain, and dairy for
Minnesota school children; assisting
value-added agricultural businesses to begin
or expand, access new markets, or diversify
products; developing urban agriculture;
facilitating the start-up, modernization, or
expansion of other beginning and transitioning
farms including loans under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41B.056; sustainable
agriculture on farm research and
demonstration; development or expansion of
food hubs and other alternative
community-based food distribution systems;
incentive payments under Minnesota Statutes,
sections 41A.16, 41A.17, and 41A.18; and
research on bioenergy, biobased content, or
biobased formulated products and other
renewable energy development. The
commissioner may use up to 4.5 percent of
this appropriation for costs incurred to
administer the program. Any unencumbered
balance does not cancel at the end of the first
year and is available for the second year.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.28, the appropriations encumbered under
contract on or before June 30, 2017, for
agricultural growth, research, and innovation
grants are available until June 30, deleted text begin 2019 deleted text end new text begin 2020 new text end .

The commissioner may use funds appropriated
for the agricultural growth, research, and
innovation program as provided in this
paragraph. The commissioner may award
grants to owners of Minnesota facilities
producing bioenergy, biobased content, or a
biobased formulated product; to organizations
that provide for on-station, on-farm field scale
research and outreach to develop and test the
agronomic and economic requirements of
diverse strands of prairie plants and other
perennials for bioenergy systems; or to certain
nongovernmental entities. For the purposes of
this paragraph, "bioenergy" includes
transportation fuels derived from cellulosic
material, as well as the generation of energy
for commercial heat, industrial process heat,
or electrical power from cellulosic materials
via gasification or other processes. Grants are
limited to 50 percent of the cost of research,
technical assistance, or equipment related to
bioenergy, biobased content, or biobased
formulated product production or $500,000,
whichever is less. Grants to nongovernmental
entities for the development of business plans
and structures related to community ownership
of eligible bioenergy facilities together may
not exceed $150,000. The commissioner shall
make a good-faith effort to select projects that
have merit and, when taken together, represent
a variety of bioenergy technologies, biomass
feedstocks, and geographic regions of the
state. Projects must have a qualified engineer
provide certification on the technology and
fuel source. Grantees must provide reports at
the request of the commissioner.

Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural
growth, research, and innovation program in
this subdivision, $1,000,000 the first year and
$1,000,000 the second year are for distribution
in equal amounts to each of the state's county
fairs to preserve and promote Minnesota
agriculture.

Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural
growth, research, and innovation program in
this subdivision, $500,000 in fiscal year 2016
and $806,000 in fiscal year 2017 are for
incentive payments under Minnesota Statutes,
sections 41A.16, 41A.17, and 41A.18. If the
appropriation exceeds the total amount for
which all producers are eligible in a fiscal
year, the balance of the appropriation is
available to the commissioner for the
agricultural growth, research, and innovation
program. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 16A.28, the first year appropriation is
available until June 30, 2017, and the second
year appropriation is available until June 30,
2018. The commissioner may use up to 4.5
percent of the appropriation for administration
of the incentive payment programs.

Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural
growth, research, and innovation program in
this subdivision, $250,000 the first year is for
grants to communities to develop or expand
food hubs and other alternative
community-based food distribution systems.
Of this amount, $50,000 is for the
commissioner to consult with existing food
hubs, alternative community-based food
distribution systems, and University of
Minnesota Extension to identify best practices
for use by other Minnesota communities. No
later than December 15, 2015, the
commissioner must report to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over agriculture
and health regarding the status of emerging
alternative community-based food distribution
systems in the state along with
recommendations to eliminate any barriers to
success. Any unencumbered balance does not
cancel at the end of the first year and is
available for the second year. This is a onetime
appropriation.

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are for grants that enable retail
petroleum dispensers to dispense biofuels to
the public in accordance with the biofuel
replacement goals established under
Minnesota Statutes, section 239.7911. A retail
petroleum dispenser selling petroleum for use
in spark ignition engines for vehicle model
years after 2000 is eligible for grant money
under this paragraph if the retail petroleum
dispenser has no more than 15 retail petroleum
dispensing sites and each site is located in
Minnesota. The grant money received under
this paragraph must be used for the installation
of appropriate technology that uses fuel
dispensing equipment appropriate for at least
one fuel dispensing site to dispense gasoline
that is blended with 15 percent of
agriculturally derived, denatured ethanol, by
volume, and appropriate technical assistance
related to the installation. A grant award must
not exceed 85 percent of the cost of the
technical assistance and appropriate
technology, including remetering of and
retrofits for retail petroleum dispensers and
replacement of petroleum dispenser projects.
The commissioner may use up to $35,000 of
this appropriation for administrative expenses.
The commissioner shall cooperate with biofuel
stakeholders in the implementation of the grant
program. The commissioner must report to
the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over agriculture policy and finance by
February 1 each year, detailing the number of
grants awarded under this paragraph and the
projected effect of the grant program on
meeting the biofuel replacement goals under
Minnesota Statutes, section 239.7911. These
are onetime appropriations.

$25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second
year are for grants to the Southern Minnesota
Initiative Foundation to promote local foods
through an annual event that raises public
awareness of local foods and connects local
food producers and processors with potential
buyers.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Laws 2017, chapter 88, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2. Protection Services

17,821,000

17,825,000

Appropriations by Fund
	2018	2019
General	17,428,000	17,428,000
Remediation	393,000	397,000

(a) $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the
second year are to develop and maintain
cottage food license exemption outreach and
training materials.

(b) $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the
second year are to coordinate the correctional
facility vocational training program and to
assist entities that have explored the feasibility
of establishing a USDA-certified or state
"equal to" food processing facility within 30
miles of the Northeast Regional Corrections
Center.

(c) $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the
second year are for additional funding for the
noxious weed and invasive plant program.
These are onetime appropriations.

(d) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are for transfer to the pollinator
habitat and research account in the agricultural
fund. These are onetime transfers.

(e) $393,000 the first year and $397,000 the
second year are from the remediation fund for
administrative funding for the voluntary
cleanup program.

(f) $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the
second year are for the industrial hemp pilot
program under Minnesota Statutes, section
18K.09. These are onetime appropriations.

(g) $175,000 the first year and $175,000 the
second year are for compensation for
destroyed or crippled livestock under
Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737. This
appropriation may be spent to compensate for
livestock that were destroyed or crippled
during fiscal year 2017. If the amount in the
first year is insufficient, the amount in the
second year is available in the first year. new text begin The
commissioner may use up to $5,000 of this
appropriation the second year to reimburse
expenses incurred by university extension
agents to provide fair market values of
destroyed or crippled livestock.
new text end

(h) $155,000 the first year and $155,000 the
second year are for compensation for crop
damage under Minnesota Statutes, section
3.7371. If the amount in the first year is
insufficient, the amount in the second year is
available in the first year. The commissioner
may use up to $30,000 of the appropriation
each year to reimburse expenses incurred by
the commissioner or the commissioner's
approved agent to investigate and resolve
claims.

If the commissioner determines that claims
made under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737
or 3.7371, are unusually high, amounts
appropriated for either program may be
transferred to the appropriation for the other
program.

(i) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are to expand current capabilities
for rapid detection, identification, containment,
control, and management of high priority plant
pests and pathogens. These are onetime
appropriations.

(j) $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the
second year are for transfer to the noxious
weed and invasive plant species assistance
account in the agricultural fund to award
grants to local units of government under
Minnesota Statutes, section 18.90, with
preference given to local units of government
responding to Palmer amaranth or other weeds
on the eradicate list. These are onetime
transfers.

(k) $120,000 the first year and $120,000 the
second year are for wolf-livestock conflict
prevention grants under article 2, section 89.
The commissioner must submit a report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over
agriculture policy and finance by January 15,
2020, on the outcomes of the wolf-livestock
conflict prevention grants and whether
livestock compensation claims were reduced
in the areas that grants were awarded. These
are onetime appropriations.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Laws 2017, chapter 88, article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4. Agriculture, Bioenergy, and Bioproduct Advancement

22,581,000

22,636,000

(a) $9,300,000 the first year and $9,300,000
the second year are for transfer to the
agriculture research, education, extension, and
technology transfer account under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3. Of
these amounts: at least $600,000 the first year
and $600,000 the second year are for the
Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's
agriculture rapid response fund under
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 1, clause (2); $2,000,000 the first
year and $2,000,000 the second year are for
grants to the Minnesota Agriculture Education
Leadership Council to enhance agricultural
education with priority given to Farm Business
Management challenge grants; $350,000 the
first year and $350,000 the second year are
for potato breeding; and $450,000 the first
year and $450,000 the second year are for the
cultivated wild rice breeding project at the
North Central Research and Outreach Center
to include a tenure track/research associate
plant breeder. The commissioner shall transfer
the remaining funds in this appropriation each
year to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for purposes of Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14. Of the amount
transferred to the Board of Regents, up to
$1,000,000 each year is for research on avian
influenza, including prevention measures that
can be taken.

To the extent practicable, funds expended
under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must
supplement and not supplant existing sources
and levels of funding. The commissioner may
use up to one percent of this appropriation for
costs incurred to administer the program.

(b) $13,256,000 the first year and $13,311,000
the second year are for the agricultural growth,
research, and innovation program in
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12. Except
as provided below, the commissioner may
allocate the appropriation each year among
the following areas: facilitating the start-up,
modernization, or expansion of livestock
operations including beginning and
transitioning livestock operations; developing
new markets for Minnesota farmers by
providing more fruits, vegetables, meat, grain,
and dairy for Minnesota school children;
assisting value-added agricultural businesses
to begin or expand, access new markets, or
diversify; providing funding not to exceed
$250,000 each year for urban youth
agricultural education or urban agriculture
community development; providing funding
not to exceed $250,000 each year for the good
food access program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 17.1017; facilitating the
start-up, modernization, or expansion of other
beginning and transitioning farms including
by providing loans under Minnesota Statutes,
section 41B.056; sustainable agriculture
on-farm research and demonstration;
development or expansion of food hubs and
other alternative community-based food
distribution systems; enhancing renewable
energy infrastructure and use; crop research;
Farm Business Management tuition assistance;
good agricultural practices/good handling
practices certification assistance; establishing
and supporting farmer-led water management
councils; and implementing farmer-led water
quality improvement practices. The
commissioner may use up to 6.5 percent of
this appropriation for costs incurred to
administer the program.

Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural
growth, research, and innovation program in
Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12:

(1) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
the second year are for distribution in equal
amounts to each of the state's county fairs to
preserve and promote Minnesota agriculture;
and

(2) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000
the second year are for incentive payments
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16,
41A.17, and 41A.18. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the first
year appropriation is available until June 30,
2019, and the second year appropriation is
available until June 30, 2020. If this
appropriation exceeds the total amount for
which all producers are eligible in a fiscal
year, the balance of the appropriation is
available for the agricultural growth, research,
and innovation program.

The commissioner may use funds appropriated
under this subdivision to award up to two
value-added agriculture grants per year of up
to $1,000,000 per grant for new or expanding
agricultural production or processing facilities
that provide significant economic impact to
the region. The commissioner may use funds
appropriated under this subdivision for
additional value-added agriculture grants for
awards between $1,000 and $200,000 per
grant.

Appropriations in clauses (1) and (2) are
onetime. Any unencumbered balance does not
cancel at the end of the first year and is
available for the second year. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28,
appropriations encumbered under contract on
or before June 30, 2019, for agricultural
growth, research, and innovation grants are
available until June 30, deleted text begin 2021 deleted text end new text begin 2022 new text end .

The base budget for the agricultural growth,
research, and innovation program is
$14,275,000 for fiscal years 2020 and 2021
and includes funding for incentive payments
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16,
41A.17, 41A.18, and 41A.20.

The commissioner must develop additional
innovative production incentive programs to
be funded by the agricultural growth, research,
and innovation program.

The commissioner must consult with the
commissioner of transportation, the
commissioner of administration, and local
units of government to identify parcels of
publicly owned land that are suitable for urban
agriculture.

(c) $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the
second year are for grants to the Southern
Minnesota Initiative Foundation to promote
local foods through an annual event that raises
public awareness of local foods and connects
local food producers and processors with
potential buyers.

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new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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