This week the Senate Agriculture Committee moved forward with two significant proposals to help Minnesota Farmers and Rural Development. The first bill passed the committee on Monday and will direct approximately $110 million of federal money to improve Minnesota broadband. The second bill, passed Wednesday, will provide $10 million in drought assistance relief to Minnesota farmers. Senator Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) is Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Committee and supported the bills. 

“We’ve been working hard to make sure our economy in Greater Minnesota can survive and prosper into the future,” Dahms said. “Reliable broadband and drought relief for our farmers are top priorities of mine. 

The broadband bill, SF 3617, appropriates the roughly $110 million remaining in Minnesota’s Capital Projects Fund for use by the Border-to-Border Broadband Grant program.  To comply with federal law, the bill directs that the money be used by December 31, 2026. The legislation allows the Department of Employment and Economic Development to comply with federal regulations, so Minnesota doesn’t lose out on the funds.

“It is imperative we in Greater Minnesota don’t get left behind the rest of the world,” Dahms said. “Reliable internet is a necessity these days for everyone. These broadband dollars will go a long way to making sure every Minnesotan has the connectivity they need.” 

The drought relief bill, SF 3479, appropriates$6.5 million for grants of up to $5,000 for livestock and specialty crop farmers located in counties that were designated as a primary natural disaster area by the USDA between July 20 and December 31, 2021. Grants are to be awarded on a first-come, first-served, non-competitive basis. Further, the bill includes $1.5 million to the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) to reimburse them for drought relief loans that they have already processed or are currently processing. 

In addition to the urgent need for drought relief, Minnesota farmers are facing impending animal disease threats from African Swine Fever (ASF) and highly pathogenic avian influence (HPAI). This week, HPAI was detected in a commercial poultry facility just south of the Minnesota border. In order to prevent an agricultural disaster, this package includes $1 million for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) at the University of Minnesota to purchase equipment to test for avian influenza, African Swine Fever, chronic wasting disease (CWD), and other animal diseases. The bill also “unlocks” $428,000 that is currently in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Emergency Account in order to purchase poultry drinking water tests for HIPAI. Lastly, $500,000 is included for transfer into the account for further animal disease testing and response.

“Our farmers work extremely hard to make a living,” Dahms said. “This relief for our livestock and specialty crop farmers will help give them the support they need in the wake of last year’s drought and prepare us for future challenges. We can never take our farmers for granted.”