On Thursday, April 13, the Democrats’ Agriculture and Rural Broadband budget bill passed out of the Senate. Though this legislation fails to sufficiently fund critical programs, it provides significant benefit to our agriculture industry and to the needs of rural broadband, said Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria), Republican Lead of the Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development Committee.

“Senate Republicans have unwaveringly advocated for resources to support Minnesota farmers and ensure our agriculture industry continues to thrive,” Senator Westrom said. “This year’s Agriculture budget is less than what the Commissioner asked for, leaving much-needed funding off the table to provide food safety and agriculture support.”

To ensure that several programs receive adequate support, Republicans offered key amendments during the floor debate. Democrats, however, failed to accept any proposed change. Among them:

• Cottage foods expansion: With rising inflation, this proposal would have raised the number of sales small producers of food could make before requiring additional regulation. It would help hundreds of Minnesotans make a living as smaller producers, especially new immigrants who are in the process of building a business.
• Restoration of Wild Rice Cultivation provisions: Wild rice has a rich history in Minnesota and is recognized as the state grain. To support more producers of wild rice, the proposal would provide consistent funding and keep our long-standing policies in place. 
• Grain Indemnity Changes: This proposal would make grain indemnity coverage voluntary, as not every farmer wants or needs to participate in this program. This would give Minnesota farmers the flexibility to use their resources as they see fit.

“While we would have prioritized the provisions differently, this legislation still builds upon past programs that Republicans successfully championed. This includes investments in meat cutting and butchery training programs along with funding to kickstart, modernize or grow Minnesotan’s livestock processing facilities. Broadband expansion is also vital to our rural communities, and I am pleased to see more investments made in this area. With the rise in remote work and education, it is essential that all Minnesotans have access to reliable internet,” Senator Westrom concluded.

Notable items in the bill include:

• $100 million for broadband expansion to connect all Minnesotans to the modern economy. 
• $1.5 million per fiscal year (FY) increase, in this biennium only, for grants that enable retail petroleum dispensers, fuel storage tanks, and other equipment to dispense higher blends of biofuels.
• $1.25 million per FY increase for grants to facilitate the start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities. This item is funded in this biennium only.
• $100,000 for grants or other forms of technical assistance to meat and poultry processors with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. This funding will reimburse the cost of attending courses or training that support developing sanitation standard operating procedures, hazard analysis and critical control points plans, or business plans. 
• $9.8 million per year, including base funds, to AGREETT for continued agriculture research and education.
• $5.5 million for Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI) grants to dairy farmers who enroll in coverage under a federal dairy risk protection program and produce no more than 25 million pounds of milk in 2022.