Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF2683 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to agriculture; establishing the biofertilizer innovation and efficiency
3	3	1.3 program; requiring rulemaking; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes
4	4	1.4 2024, section 18C.005, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in
5	5	1.5 Minnesota Statutes, chapter 18C.
6	6	1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
7	7	1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18C.005, is amended by adding a subdivision
8	8	1.8to read:
9	9	1.9 Subd. 4a.Commercial nitrogen fertilizer."Commercial nitrogen fertilizer" means a
10	10	1.10fertilizer with a nitrogen content that is not less than 25 percent.
11	11	1.11 Sec. 2. [18C.113] BIOFERTILIZER INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.
12	12	1.12 Subdivision 1.Program established.In consultation with the commissioner of natural
13	13	1.13resources and soil and water conservation districts in Minnesota, the commissioner of
14	14	1.14agriculture must develop and administer a biofertilizer innovation and efficiency program
15	15	1.15to address water quality by incentivizing Minnesota farmers to improve nitrogen management
16	16	1.16and incorporate innovative technologies into the farmers' crop nutrient management plans.
17	17	1.17The commissioner must determine which products qualify for the program, including soil
18	18	1.18amendments, fertilizers with nitrogen-fixing properties, biological sources of nitrogen, and
19	19	1.19other biofertilizers.
20	20	1.20 Subd. 2.Payments to qualified farmers.(a) In consultation with farmers and the
21	21	1.21fertilizer industry, the commissioner must establish a per-acre payment rate, not less than
22	22	1.22$5 per acre, for payments provided to a qualifying farmer. The program must provide an
23	23	1.23annual per-acre incentive payment to a qualifying farmer who verifies through documentation
24	24	1Sec. 2.
25	25	REVISOR BD/KR 25-0439503/05/25
26	26	State of Minnesota
27	27	This Document can be made available
28	28	in alternative formats upon request
29	29	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
30	30	H. F. No. 2683
31	31	NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
32	32	Authored by Anderson, P. H.; Burkel; Harder; Jacob and Nelson03/24/2025
33	33	The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy 2.1that the farmer has reduced commercial nitrogen fertilizer rates by using a qualifying product
34	34	2.2in the farmer's crop nutrient management plans by the lesser of:
35	35	2.3 (1) 15 percent; or
36	36	2.4 (2) 30 pounds per acre.
37	37	2.5 (b) The Department of Agriculture must annually review and may adjust the per-acre
38	38	2.6payment rate based on inflation and emerging fertilizer technology.
39	39	2.7 Subd. 3.Qualifications.To qualify for the biofertilizer water preservation program, a
40	40	2.8farmer must:
41	41	2.9 (1) be a Minnesota resident operating farmland located in Minnesota;
42	42	2.10 (2) submit documentation to the commissioner, including a crop nutrient management
43	43	2.11plan that will reduce the use of commercial nitrogen fertilizers at the reduction rate required
44	44	2.12under subdivision 2 by using a qualifying product determined by the commissioner under
45	45	2.13subdivision 1; and
46	46	2.14 (3) enroll a minimum of 40 eligible acres.
47	47	2.15 Subd. 4.Review required.Every two years, the commissioner must review:
48	48	2.16 (1) the program's required minimum commercial nitrogen fertilizer reduction rate under
49	49	2.17subdivision 2 and determine whether an increase in the minimum reduction rate is necessary;
50	50	2.18and
51	51	2.19 (2) additional qualifying products that may be used by farmers in the program. When
52	52	2.20making this determination, the commissioner must consider newly available technologies
53	53	2.21and products capable of reducing commercial nitrogen fertilizer applications.
54	54	2.22 Subd. 5.Rulemaking required.The commissioner must adopt rules to implement this
55	55	2.23section.
56	56	2.24 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION.
57	57	2.25 $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
58	58	2.26of agriculture to establish and administer the biofertilizer innovation and efficiency program.
59	59	2.27Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, any unencumbered balance at the end
60	60	2.28of fiscal year 2026 does not cancel and is available until June 30, 2027.
61	61	2Sec. 3.
62	62	REVISOR BD/KR 25-0439503/05/25