1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to agriculture; appropriating money to the commissioner of agriculture
1.3 for a grant to the Women's Environmental Institute for a farming incubator project.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION; WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENT AL INSTITUTE.
1.6 (a) $150,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from
1.7the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the Women's Environmental
1.8Institute to develop a farming incubator project for aspiring Black, Indigenous, and People
1.9of Color farmers to increase equitable access to affordable, high-quality food production,
1.10affordable access to organically certified land, and development of organic and regenerative
1.11farming skills and practices. This appropriation must be used to:
1.12 (1) provide direct grants to farmers experiencing limited land access as defined in
1.13Minnesota Statutes, section 17.133, subdivision 1, to cover the costs of land rental, purchasing
1.14seeds, compost, irrigation and other farm equipment and supplies, marketing expenses,
1.15transportation expenses, certifications for organic produce, and other directly related farm
1.16expenses;
1.17 (2) fund administrative, outreach, and recruitment costs;
1.18 (3) hire a farming incubator project coordinator;
1.19 (4) develop and provide additional farming infrastructure needed at the Women's
1.20Environmental Institute to support participation in the farming incubator project;
1.21 (5) provide farming production supplies, food processing equipment, and needed space
1.22to the farming incubator project participants; and
1Section 1.
25-05371 as introduced04/03/25 REVISOR BD/DG
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3386NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: KUNESH)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading04/22/2025
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development 2.1 (6) provide education and training in regenerative organic farming methods that include
2.2food safety practices, farm finances and budgeting, compost and organic soil health practice,
2.3and marketing.
2.4 (b) One-third of the money appropriated under this section must be allocated to
2.5communities outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes,
2.6section 473.121, subdivision 2.
2.7 (c) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2028.
2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2Section 1.
25-05371 as introduced04/03/25 REVISOR BD/DG