SF 2604

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/07/2023 08:34am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for a farming incubator project.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; FARMING INCUBATOR PROJECT.
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new text begin (a) $300,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $300,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the Women's Environmental
Institute for developing a farming incubator project for aspiring Black, Indigenous, and
People of Color farmers to develop organic and regenerative farming skills and practices,
including production and marketing, and provide more equitable access to affordable high
quality food and affordable access to organically certified land. The first grants must be
given to farmers referred by the Somali American Farmers Institute (SAFI) who are SAFI
members, partners, and allied Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers. One third
of the money received under this section must be used to serve communities outside the
seven-county metropolitan area. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June
30, 2026.
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new text begin (b) Funding may be used for the following purposes:
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new text begin (1) to fund the Somali American Institute's administrative, outreach, and recruitment
costs, and to hire a farming incubator project coordinator;
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new text begin (2) to help develop and provide the additional farming infrastructure necessary at the
Women's Environmental Institute to support participating farmers, including farming
production supplies, food processing equipment, and space needed by farming incubator
project participants;
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new text begin (3) to provide education and training classes and mentoring in regenerative organic
farming methods, including food safety practices, farm finance, budgeting, and marketing;
and
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new text begin (4) to provide direct grants to farmer participants to cover the farmer participants' costs
of land rental, seed purchase, composting, irrigation and other equipment supplies, marketing
expenses, travel to and from farming sites, and child care expenses related to the farming
incubator project.
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