HF 3420

2nd Unofficial Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/08/2022 08:25am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for grants and financial assistance to
livestock farmers and specialty crop producers impacted by drought; appropriating
money to the Rural Finance Authority revolving loan account for drought relief;
appropriating money for veterinary diagnostic laboratory equipment; appropriating
money for transfer to the agricultural emergency account; requiring reports.

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

Section 1. new text begin DROUGHT RELIEF; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $7,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of agriculture for the purpose of providing grants and other forms of financial
assistance to livestock farmers and specialty crop producers impacted by the drought in
2021. For the purposes of this section, "specialty crop" means an eligible crop under the
United States Department of Agriculture's specialty crop block grant program. Of the amount
appropriated in this paragraph:
new text end

new text begin (1) $5,500,000 is for livestock farmers; and
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new text begin (2) $1,500,000 is for livestock farmers or specialty crop producers. Of the amount
appropriated in this clause, up to $100,000 may be used to reimburse livestock farmers for
expenses not reimbursed through the United States Department of Agriculture Emergency
Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) program, at a rate of
$6.60 per mile used in obtaining or transporting feed or feed ingredients up to 25 miles to
and from the farm.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner may issue payments of up to $5,000 on a first-come, first-served,
noncompetitive basis. Eligible producers must be located in counties that were designated
as a primary natural disaster area by the United States Department of Agriculture between
July 20, 2021, and December 31, 2021. In order to receive a payment, a recipient must sign
an attestation of the value of the loss suffered due to drought. Grants must be limited to the
value of the loss or $5,000, whichever is less. Beginning January 10, 2023, and annually
thereafter until January 10, 2025, the commissioner must report on the utilization of the
grants under this paragraph to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture
finance. The report must include a breakdown of grants by type of farm, either livestock or
specialty crop, and by county. Any unencumbered balance at the end of the year does not
cancel and is available until June 30, 2024. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the Rural
Finance Authority revolving loan account established under Minnesota Statutes, section
41B.06, for drought relief loans under Minnesota Statutes, section 41B.047. If this
appropriation exceeds the total amount for which all farmers are eligible in a fiscal year,
the balance of the appropriation is available for other programs eligible for funding under
the Rural Finance Authority's revolving loan account. Beginning January 10, 2023, and
annually thereafter until January 10, 2025, the commissioner must report activities and
expenditures under this paragraph to the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over agriculture finance. Any unencumbered balance at the end of the year does not cancel
and is available until June 30, 2024. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; VETERINARY DISEASE TESTING EQUIPMENT.
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new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of agriculture for a grant to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to purchase
equipment for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to test for chronic wasting disease,
African swine fever, avian influenza, and other animal diseases. The Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory must report expenditures under this section to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over agriculture finance and higher education with an initial report completed
by January 3, 2023, and a final report by September 1, 2023. The reports must include a list
of equipment purchased including the cost of each item. This is a onetime appropriation
that is available until June 30, 2023.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2022 is transferred from the general fund to the agricultural
emergency account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.041. This
is a onetime transfer.
new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 17.041, the commissioner may spend
money from the agricultural emergency account for the purposes of avian influenza testing
supplies, including but not limited to poultry drinking water tests. This paragraph expires
on December 31, 2022.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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