Today the Minnesota Senate passed a comprehensive agriculture budget bill to support Minnesota agriculture and rural development. The legislation is focused on helping Minnesota farmers while spurring innovation in the agriculture industry. 

“There are few things more important to the success of our state than a strong agriculture economy,” said Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont). “This bill continues our rich tradition of ag innovation and provides resources for important priorities. I look forward to getting it to the governor’s desk as soon as possible.”

The budget will help promote Minnesota’s own homegrown fuels, like E-15, by providing grant money to improve Minnesota’s biofuel infrastructure, allowing more gas stations to install the equipment to dispense biofuels. The legislation also responds to fix vulnerabilities in our Ag sector supply chains that were exposed during the pandemic. The bill makes critical investments in meat processors which will help provide more jobs, improve our processing efficiency, and provide more purchasing options for consumers. 

The bill allows for increased outreach to emerging farmers and provides translation services to cottage food producers. Additionally, the comprehensive budget agreement provides farm safety grants and mental health funding, provides investments to continue battling noxious weeds, gives additional resources to boost international trade, and allows for greater funding of farm-to-school programming.  

The Senate held firm against proposals by the House and Governor to burden Minnesota farmers. The bill does not increase fees on pesticides as proposed by the House and Governor Walz, while still making additional investments for Minnesota Department of Agriculture laboratory equipment. There are no new restrictions on treated seeds, something pushed by the House even though it would have had a major negative impact on Minnesota’s agricultural sector. 

The Senate passed the Agriculture budget on a bipartisan, 63-3 vote. The House of Representatives passed the same bill on Saturday. The legislation now awaits the Governor’s signature to be enacted into law.