1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture finance; appropriating money to the University of 
1.3 	Minnesota for agricultural research and extension; requiring report.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION SERVICE.
 1.6 	(a) $53,175,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $52,175,000 in fiscal year 2011 are 
1.7 	appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota 
1.8 	for agricultural research and extension activities.
1.9 	(b) The Agricultural Experiment Stations and Minnesota Extension Service must 
1.10 	convene agricultural producer advisory groups to focus research, education, and extension 
1.11 	activities on producer needs and implement an outreach strategy that more effectively and 
1.12 	rapidly transfers research results and best practices to producers throughout the state.
1.13 	(c) This appropriation includes funding for research efforts that demonstrate a 
1.14 	renewed emphasis on the needs of the state's production agriculture community. The 
1.15 	following areas should be prioritized and carried out in consultation with Minnesota 
1.16 	producer organizations:
1.17 	(1) vegetable crop research;
1.18 	(2) fertilizer and soil fertility research and development;
1.19 	(3) soil, ground, and surface water conservation practices and contaminant reduction 
1.20 	research;
1.21 	(4) discovering and developing plant varieties that use nutrients more efficiently;
1.22 	(5) breeding and development of turf seed and other biomass resources in all three 
1.23 	Minnesota biomes;
2.1 	(6) development of new disease-resistant and pest-resistant varieties of turf and 
2.2 	agronomic crops;
2.3 	(7) utilizing plant and livestock cells to treat and cure human diseases;
2.4 	(8) the development of dairy coproducts;
2.5 	(9) a rapid agricultural response fund for current or emerging animal, plant, and 
2.6 	insect problems affecting production or food safety;
2.7 	(10) crop pest and animal disease research; developing animal agriculture that is 
2.8 	capable of sustainably feeding the world; and
2.9 	(11) consumer food safety education and outreach.
2.10 	(d) This appropriation includes funding for research and outreach on the production 
2.11 	of renewable energy from Minnesota biomass resources. The following areas should 
2.12 	be prioritized and carried out in consultation with Minnesota producer and bioenergy 
2.13 	organizations:
2.14 	(1) biofuel and other energy production from small grains, row crops, and forestry 
2.15 	products;
2.16 	(2) alternative bioenergy crops and cropping systems; and
2.17 	(3) biofuel coproducts used for livestock feed.
2.18 	(e) This appropriation includes funding for analysis of livestock facility siting and 
2.19 	regulatory models from other states and countries and the following aspects of ethanol 
2.20 	production in Minnesota:
2.21 	(1) water use trends as compared to other industries and activities;
2.22 	(2) the carbon balance of ethanol production;
2.23 	(3) the effect of ethanol blending requirements on transportation fuel prices; and
2.24 	(4) the economic impacts of ethanol production and use including such measures as 
2.25 	employment, economic output, and state and local tax revenues.
2.26 	(f) This appropriation may be used to establish and maintain a statewide organic 
2.27 	research and education initiative, secure a facility and retain current faculty levels for 
2.28 	poultry research currently conducted at UMore Park, develop and implement a dairy 
2.29 	producer continuing education program and for scoping a new dairy research and teaching 
2.30 	facility.
2.31 	(g) By February 1, 2011, the Board of Regents must submit a report to the legislative 
2.32 	committees with responsibility for agriculture and higher education finance on the status 
2.33 	and outcomes of research and initiatives funded in this section.