The bill authorizes supplemental appropriations for various agriculture-related programs in Minnesota, allocating significant funding for initiatives such as home water treatment, soil health assistance, and farm-to-school market enhancements. Specifically, it designates $750,000 for home water treatment, prioritizing low-income households, and $500,000 for soil health projects in targeted counties. Additional funding is provided for a working group to address crop destruction by deer, meat cutting education grants, and livestock protection measures against avian influenza. The bill also introduces new reporting requirements and modifies existing appropriations, including adjustments to the dairy development program and mental health outreach for farmers, while repealing a previous statute related to agricultural funding.

Moreover, the bill amends Minnesota Statutes to enhance support for beginning farmers and the dairy industry, expanding the definition of "beginning farmer" and introducing the term "limited land access." It increases tax credits for agricultural asset owners selling to beginning farmers with limited land access, raising the credit from eight percent to twelve percent of the sale price, with a maximum credit of $50,000. The bill also establishes a disaster recovery loan program for farmers and mandates the Rural Finance Authority to report on the effectiveness of beginning farmer tax credits. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen agricultural practices, support food security, and promote sustainable farming in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
1st Engrossment: 17.116, 17.133, 18C.70, 18C.71, 18C.80, 28A.10, 31.94, 32D.30, 41B.047, 34.07, 116J.396