2012 Minnesota Statutes

41A.12 AGRICULTURAL GROWTH, RESEARCH, AND INNOVATION PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.Establishment.

The agricultural growth, research, and innovation program is established in order to promote the advancement of the state's agricultural and renewable energy industries.

Subd. 2.Activities authorized.

For the purposes of this program, the commissioner may issue grants, loans, or other forms of financial assistance. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, grants to livestock producers under the livestock investment grant program under section 17.118, bioenergy awards made by the NextGen Energy Board under section 41A.105, cost-share grants for the installation of biofuel blender pumps, and financial assistance to support other rural economic infrastructure activities.

Subd. 3.Oversight.

The commissioner, in consultation with the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance, must allocate available funds among eligible uses, develop competitive eligibility criteria, and award funds on a needs basis.

Subd. 4.Sunset.

This section expires on June 30, 2015.

History:

2009 c 94 art 1 s 83; 2012 c 244 art 1 s 43,44