Plain English Breakdown
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SF3686 • 2026
Rotational grazing pilot program establishment and appropriation
Rotational grazing pilot program establishment and appropriation
Budget
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-03-02
House
Comm report: Amended, No recommendation, re-referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
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2026-02-26
House
Authors added Putnam; Dornink
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2026-02-19
House
Introduction and first reading
Official Summary Text
Rotational grazing pilot program establishment and appropriation
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act relating to agriculture; establishing a rotational grazing pilot program; requiring a report; appropriating money. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: Section 1. new text begin ROTATIONAL GRAZING PILOT PROGRAM. new text end new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Administration. new text end new text begin The commissioner of agriculture must establish and administer a rotational grazing pilot program that awards grants to Minnesota farmers for rotational grazing projects to enhance the use of prairies and woodlands and help protect surface or drinking water sources. For purposes of this program, "rotational grazing" means a livestock grazing system in which fields are subdivided into smaller paddocks, livestock density is controlled, and livestock is rotated through paddocks at a frequency that maintains vegetative cover, ensures regular access to fresh forage, and reduces soil compaction and erosion. new text end new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Grant purposes. new text end new text begin The commissioner must award grants to Minnesota farmers for either of the following purposes: new text end new text begin (1) to establish perennial forages for rotational grazing of livestock; or new text end new text begin (2) to purchase rotational grazing system infrastructure, including fencing, watering, and other livestock management infrastructure to support rotational grazing of livestock. Rotational grazing of perennial forage or cover crops that help protect surface or drinking water sources are permitted purposes under this clause. Rotational grazing on any private or public land on which the farmer is authorized to graze is permitted under this clause. new text end new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Awarding grants. new text end new text begin (a) Grants under subdivision 2 must only be awarded to a Minnesota farmer implementing a new rotational grazing system in Minnesota or a new rotational grazing practice that improves the conservation and water protection of existing grazing systems in Minnesota. new text end new text begin (b) The department must not award more than $25,000 in grants to any one grantee. new text end new text begin (c) All grant money must be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. The commissioner must reimburse a grantee under this section within six months after confirming that the grantee has completed necessary grazing systems updates. A grantee must provide evidence of successful implementation of rotational grazing practices to receive reimbursement. new text end new text begin (d) A grant agreement must include a 50 percent match from the farmer. A match includes services, materials, or cash that the grantee contributed to accomplish grant objectives. new text end new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Report. new text end new text begin By January 15, 2028, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over agriculture and the environment and natural resources trust fund on the results of the grant awards under this section, including the number, amount, and distribution by county of grant awards. new text end Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION. new text end new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the environment and natural resources trust fund to the commissioner of agriculture for the rotational grazing pilot program. new text end