1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to agriculture; transferring money into the agriculture research, education,
1.3 extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT) account; appropriating money for
1.4 the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant
1.5 program and farm business management challenge grants; requiring reports.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. TRANSFER; AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION,
1.8AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.
1.9 $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2027 are transferred from
1.10the general fund to the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer
1.11(AGREETT) account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
1.12subdivision 3. The base for this transfer is $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year
1.13thereafter.
1.14 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION,
1.15EXTENSION, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.
1.16 (a) $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
1.17from the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT)
1.18account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3,
1.19to the commissioner of agriculture for the AGREETT grant program under Minnesota
1.20Statutes, section 41A.14. To the extent practicable, money expended under Minnesota
1.21Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must supplement and not supplant
1.22existing sources and levels of funding. The commissioner of agriculture may use up to one
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR BD/EN 25-0264501/28/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 653
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Nelson; Anderson, P. H., and Frederick02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy 2.1percent of this appropriation for costs incurred to administer the program. Of the amount
2.2appropriated for the AGREETT grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14:
2.3 (1) $600,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the Minnesota
2.4Agricultural Experiment Station's agriculture rapid response fund under Minnesota Statutes,
2.5section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clause (2);
2.6 (2) up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for
2.7research on avian influenza, salmonella, and other turkey-related diseases and disease
2.8prevention measures;
2.9 (3) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for grants to
2.10the Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council (MAELC) to enhance agricultural
2.11education with priority given to farm business management challenge grants. In awarding
2.12grants, the MAELC shall prioritize funding for faculty with expertise in farm transition
2.13planning, rural mental health, and growing specialty crops in urban areas;
2.14 (4) $350,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for potato breeding;
2.15 (5) $802,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $802,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to fund the Forever
2.16Green Initiative and protect the state's natural resources while increasing the efficiency,
2.17profitability, and productivity of Minnesota farmers by incorporating perennial and
2.18winter-annual crops into existing agricultural practices. The base for the allocation under
2.19this clause is $802,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter. By February 1 each
2.20year, the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the
2.21University of Minnesota must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members
2.22of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy and higher
2.23education detailing uses of the funds in this clause, including administrative costs, and the
2.24achievements these funds contributed to;
2.25 (6) $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for research on
2.26natural stands of wild rice; and
2.27 (7) $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the cultivated
2.28wild rice forward selection project at the North Central Research and Outreach Center,
2.29including a tenure track or research associate plant scientist.
2.30 (b) The base for this appropriation is $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year
2.31thereafter.
2Sec. 2.
REVISOR BD/EN 25-0264501/28/25