SF 793

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/26/2021 10:09am

A bill for an act
relating to environment; appropriating money to develop statewide soil health
action plan; appropriating money for precision agriculture research and outreach;
increasing funding for the agricultural best management practices loan program.

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

Section 1. new text begin STATEWIDE SOIL HEALTH ACTION PLAN; APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota to prepare a statewide action plan for soil health in
consultation with the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the commissioners of
agriculture, natural resources, and the Pollution Control Agency. The plan must include
recommendations for protecting and improving the state's soil health for agricultural and
water quality purposes, including recommendations for research, implementation, outreach,
and prioritization of the use of future funding. By January 15, 2022, the plan must be
submitted to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and
senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture and environment and
natural resources policy. This is a onetime appropriation.
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Sec. 2. new text begin PRECISION AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH;
APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota, in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture and
the Board of Water and Soil Resources, to provide additional research and outreach through
the University of Minnesota's Precision Agriculture Center and to:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop policy recommendations regarding data privacy, public-private partnerships,
and needed technical assistance focused on the most challenging agricultural and water
issues; and
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new text begin (2) research recommendations and pilot studies that include variable rate nutrients,
variable rate irrigation, nitrogen mineralization, remote sensing, delineation of management
zones, and extension programming.
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Sec. 3. new text begin AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES LOAN PROGRAM;
TRANSFER.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is transferred from the general fund to the commissioner of
agriculture for deposit in the appropriate agricultural and environmental revolving loan
account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.117, subdivision 5a, for low-interest
loans to farmers, rural landowners, and agricultural businesses through the agricultural best
management practices loan program. This is a onetime transfer.
new text end