Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council and the Agriculture Research, Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer grant program authority modified.

A bill for an act

relating to agriculture; modifying the authority of the Minnesota Agricultural

Fertilizer Research and Education Council and the Agriculture Research, Education,

Extension, and Technology Transfer grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, sections 18C.70, subdivision 2; 18C.71, subdivision 2; 18C.80, subdivision

1; 41A.14.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18C.70, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Powers and duties.

The council must review applications and
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select
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submit

recommendations of
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projects to receive agricultural fertilizer research and education program

grants, as authorized in section
18C.71
. The council must
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establish a program to provide
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submit recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture

finance and policy for
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grants to research, education, and technology transfer projects related

to agricultural fertilizer, soil amendments, and plant amendments. For the purpose of this

section, "fertilizer" includes soil amendments and plant amendments, but does not include

vegetable or animal manures that are not manipulated. The commissioner is responsible for

all
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fiscal and
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administrative duties.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18C.71, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Awarding grants.

Applications for program grants must be submitted in the

form prescribed by the Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council.

Applications must be submitted on or before the deadline prescribed by the council. All

applications are subject to a thorough in-state review by a peer committee established and

approved by the council. Each project meeting the basic qualifications is subject to a yes

or no vote by each council member. Projects
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chosen
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submitted as recommendations to the

legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy
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to receive funding

must achieve an affirmative vote from at least ten of the 15 council members or two-thirds

of voting members present. Projects awarded program funds must submit an annual progress

report in the form prescribed by the council.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18C.80, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Account; appropriation.

An agricultural fertilizer research and education

account is established in the agricultural fund. Money in the account, including interest

earned, is
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appropriated to the commissioner
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for grants
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determined by the Minnesota

Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council
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under section
18C.71
.
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The

commissioner may use up to $80,000 each fiscal year for direct costs incurred to provide

fiscal and administrative support to the council as required under section
18C.70
, subdivision

2. The commissioner may also recover associated indirect costs from the account as required

under section
16A.127
.
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Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41A.14, is amended to read:

41A.14 AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, AND

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Duties; grants.

The agriculture research, education, extension, and

technology transfer grant program is created. The purpose of the grant program is to provide

investments that will most efficiently achieve long-term agricultural productivity increases

through improved infrastructure, vision, and accountability. The scope and intent of the

grants, to the extent possible, shall provide for long-term base funding that allows the grantee

to continue the functions of the research, education, extension, and technology transfer

efforts to a practical conclusion. Priority for grants shall be given to human infrastructure.

The commissioner shall
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provide
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make recommendations to the legislative committees with

jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy for
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grants for:

(1) agricultural research, extension, and technology transfer needs at the University of

Minnesota for use by any of the following:

(i) the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences;

(ii) the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station;

(iii) the University of Minnesota Extension Service;

(iv) the University of Minnesota Veterinary School;

(v) the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; or

(vi) the Stakman-Borlaug Center;

(2) agriculture rapid response for plant and animal diseases and pests; and

(3) agricultural education including but not limited to the Minnesota Agriculture

Education Leadership Council, farm business management, mentoring programs, graduate

debt forgiveness, and high school programs.

Subd. 2.

Advisory panel.

(a) In
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awarding
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submitting recommendations for
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grants under

this section, the commissioner and a representative of the College of Food, Agricultural and

Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota must consult with an advisory

panel consisting of the following stakeholders:

(1) a representative of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system;

(2) a representative of the Minnesota Farm Bureau;

(3) a representative of the Minnesota Farmers Union;

(4) a person representing agriculture industry statewide;

(5) a representative of each of the state commodity councils organized under section

17.54
and the Minnesota Pork Board;

(6) a person representing an association of primary manufacturers of forest products;

(7) a person representing organic or sustainable agriculture;

(8) a person representing statewide environment and natural resource conservation

organizations; and

(9) a person representing the interests of Minnesota Tribal governments as defined in

section
10.65, subdivision 2
, paragraph (a), clause (4).

(b) Members under paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3) and (5), shall be chosen by their

respective organizations. The member under paragraph (a), clause (9), may be appointed

by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council at the council's discretion.

Subd. 3.

Account.

An agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer

account is created in the agricultural fund in the state treasury. The account consists of

money received in the form of gifts, grants, reimbursement, or appropriations from any

source for any of the purposes provided in subdivision 1, and any interest or earnings of the

account.
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Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of agriculture for the

purposes under subdivision 1.
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Sec. 5.
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EFFECTIVE DATE.
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This act is effective July 1, 2027.

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