MN House of Representatives hears a new bill…

Nelson; Anderson, P. H., and Frederick introduced:

H. F. 653, A bill for an act relating to agriculture; transferring money into the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT) account; appropriating money for the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant program and farm business management challenge grants; requiring reports.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy.

While not necessarily directly to broadband, it does sound like a potential for increased use of rural broadband…

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; transferring money into the agriculture research, education,
extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT) account; appropriating money for
the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant
program and farm business management challenge grants; requiring reports.

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

Section 1. TRANSFER; AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION,
AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.

$11,102,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2027 are transferred from
the general fund to the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer
(AGREETT) account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 3. The base for this transfer is $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year
thereafter.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION,
EXTENSION, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
from the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT)
account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3,
to the commissioner of agriculture for the AGREETT grant program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14. To the extent practicable, money expended under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must supplement and not supplant
existing sources and levels of funding. The commissioner of agriculture may use up to one
percent of this appropriation for costs incurred to administer the program. Of the amount
appropriated for the AGREETT grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14:

(1) $600,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the Minnesota
Agricultural Experiment Station’s agriculture rapid response fund under Minnesota Statutes,
section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clause (2);

(2) up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for
research on avian influenza, salmonella, and other turkey-related diseases and disease
prevention measures;

(3) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for grants to
the Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council (MAELC) to enhance agricultural
education with priority given to farm business management challenge grants. In awarding
grants, the MAELC shall prioritize funding for faculty with expertise in farm transition
planning, rural mental health, and growing specialty crops in urban areas;

(4) $350,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for potato breeding;

(5) $802,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $802,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to fund the Forever
Green Initiative and protect the state’s natural resources while increasing the efficiency,
profitability, and productivity of Minnesota farmers by incorporating perennial and
winter-annual crops into existing agricultural practices. The base for the allocation under
this clause is $802,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter. By February 1 each
year, the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the
University of Minnesota must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy and higher
education detailing uses of the funds in this clause, including administrative costs, and the
achievements these funds contributed to;

(6) $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for research on
natural stands of wild rice; and

(7) $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the cultivated
wild rice forward selection project at the North Central Research and Outreach Center,
including a tenure track or research associate plant scientist.

(b) The base for this appropriation is $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year
thereafter.