1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; appropriating money to the University of Minnesota 
1.3 	to establish an organic research and education initiative.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. ORGANIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE.
 1.6 	$1,100,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2008 and $1,100,000 is appropriated in 
1.7 	fiscal year 2009 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of 
1.8 	Minnesota for the college of food, agricultural, and natural resources sciences to establish 
1.9 	and maintain a statewide organic research and education initiative. This is an ongoing 
1.10 	baseline appropriation. $450,000 in each year is for three full-time faculty positions 
1.11 	providing leadership for organic agronomic, horticultural, livestock, and food systems 
1.12 	research, education, and outreach. $300,000 in each year is for new technical support staff 
1.13 	positions at the Saint Paul campus, UMore Park near Rosemount, and the research and 
1.14 	outreach centers in Lamberton, Waseca, Morris, and Crookston. $250,000 in each year is 
1.15 	for graduate assistantships that support organic research and education projects. $100,000 
1.16 	in each year is for the purchase of state-of-the-art laboratory, planting, tillage, harvesting, 
1.17 	and processing equipment at the aforementioned sites.