On Sunday, the Minnesota Senate passed a bipartisan agriculture budget that advances Minnesota by investing in the state’s critical agricultural priorities. The compromise bill, House File 1545, dedicates $123 million in funding to protect Minnesota’s economic future, ensuring growth in Minnesota’s agricultural industry through new innovation and value-added processes. In addition to looking forward, the legislation includes key investments to protect Minnesotan farmers and their crops from the spread of noxious weeds and dangerous plant pathogens.

“Republicans in the legislature have worked tirelessly with Governor Dayton and his administration to craft a bipartisan agricultural budget that focuses on Minnesotan farmers by prioritizing investments in innovation to drive agriculture and rural development across our state,” said Senator Torrey Westrom Chair of the Senate’s Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Finance Committee. “I’m confident that we’ve built a bill that Governor Dayton can agree to and one that will best serve the people of Minnesota.”

The legislation includes significant investments in research and development which are critical to the survival of Minnesota’s agricultural economy.  Specifically, the budget proposal will increase funding for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation Program (AGRI) by $5.8 million over the next biennium. AGRI has used these funds in the past to support successful measures including innovative value-added grants, livestock investment grants and biofuel infrastructure grants.

H.F 1545 dedicates $850 thousand for partnerships with local communities to combat the spread of noxious weeds. The measure will be particularly beneficial to areas of southwestern Minnesota that are currently struggling to combat the spread of Palmer amaranth.

Also, included in the bill is continued funding for Minnesota’s fight against plant pathogens. The budget proposal invests an additional $500 thousand to support rapid detection, allowing our state to control high priority plant pathogens before they can spread their diseases and harm more Minnesotans’ crops.

Lastly, tractor rollovers continue to be one of the most frequent forms of death for Minnesota farmers. The legislature is continuing its fight to reduce this threat by investing $150 thousand in tractor rollover grants directed to improve safety to better protect farmers and students throughout the state.