The Minnesota State Senate made a strong commitment to fighting the Palmer amaranth with the passage of two major budget bills. House File 1545, the agriculture finance bill, includes $850,000 for state-local government partnerships to combat the spread of Palmer amaranth. Senate File 844, the environment budget bill, requires that the conservation seed used in buffer strips be certified by the Department of Agriculture, to guarantee the seed is free of noxious weeds.

State Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake), a leading advocate of stronger Palmer amaranth protections, issued the following statement:

“I’m glad to see the legislature and the governor are taking the Palmer amaranth threat seriously,” said Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake). “Palmer amaranth has the potential to devastate Minnesota farms, and we have to be proactive to stop it before it becomes a crisis. Aside from buffers, Palmer amaranth is the issue I hear about most from farmers. These bills are a strong signal that we’re making it a priority.”