SF 668

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/23/2012 09:06am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for agricultural clean water
programs.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; CLEAN WATER FUND.
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new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2012 and $....... in fiscal year 2013 are appropriated from the
clean water fund to the commissioner of agriculture to increase monitoring for pesticides
and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to
assess pesticide use practices.
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new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2012 and $....... in fiscal year 2013 are appropriated from the
clean water fund to the commissioner of agriculture to increase groundwater and drinking
water protection from agricultural chemicals and nutrients.
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new text begin (c) $....... in fiscal year 2012 and $....... in fiscal year 2013 are appropriated from
the clean water fund to the commissioner of agriculture for research, pilot projects, and
technical assistance related to ways agricultural practices contribute to restoring impaired
waters and assist with the development of total maximum daily load (TMDL) plans. Of
this amount, $....... each year is for grants to the livestock environmental quality assurance
program to develop resource management plans, provide resource management analysis
and assistance, provide an implementation plan, and provide for annual reporting on
water quality assessment and reasonable assurance of the water quality effects for the
purposes of TMDL plans, including an assurance walk-through for farms enrolled in the
program. By December 15, 2012, the commissioner of agriculture shall submit a report to
the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over agriculture and environment policy and finance on the activities of the livestock
environmental quality assurance program. The report must include:
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new text begin (1) the number of farms enrolled;
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new text begin (2) an analysis of the estimated water quality improvements to enrolled farms; and
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new text begin (3) an analysis of the ability to provide reasonable assurance of the water quality
effects.
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new text begin (d) $....... in fiscal year 2012 and $....... in fiscal year 2013 are appropriated from the
clean water fund to the commissioner of agriculture for the agricultural best management
practices loan program. At least $....... in fiscal year 2012 and at least $....... in fiscal
year 2013 are for transfer to a new clean water agricultural best management practices
loan account and are available for pass-through to local governments and lenders for
low interest loans. Any unencumbered balance that is not used for pass-through to local
governments does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.
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