Senate Republicans this week completed their Advancing Minnesota budget plan as they passed the last of ten budget bills off the Senate floor. Included in these budget bills are three important protections for farmers who are concerned about Palmer amaranth.

“Palmer amaranth poses a serious, potentially-devastating risk to our agricultural community,” said Sen. Draheim. “It’s the top concern I hear about from farmers in my district, and we’re taking steps to make sure the weed doesn’t spread any further than it already has.”

Senate File 405, chief authored by Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake), begins the process of combating the weed by requiring the Department of Agriculture to post a notice when the weed is discovered in a county.

Senate File 1140, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Draheim, directs $600,000 over the next two years to help local governments combat the spread of Palmer amaranth.

The Advancing Minnesota budget also aims to guarantee the weed does not accidentally spread through Gov. Dayton’s buffer strip law by delaying further implantation of that program for two years. In addition, only Minnesota conservation seed could be used to create buffer strips.

“Taxes, transportation, and health care get all the headlines, but addressing Palmer amaranth is just as critical to the livelihoods of farmers in my district. We have to act before it turns into a full-blown crisis,” concluded Sen. Draheim.

The Palmer amaranth notification law and funding programs were included in the Agriculture Finance Bill (SF 780). The buffer strip implementation delay was included in the Environment Finance Bill (HF 888).