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Committee approves amendment to expand eligibility and increases small‑grant match in livestock investment program
Summary
House File 1796 (as amended) would modify the Livestock Investment Grant by changing eligibility language, raising match rates for small projects and lowering larger caps; department testimony said average grants run about $17,000 and that the agency caps awards at $250,000; the A1 amendment was adopted and the bill was laid over.
Representative Nelson presented House File 1796, a bill proposing modifications to the Livestock Investment Grant program. Nelson offered an A1 amendment that the committee adopted; members then heard testimony from producers and from the Department of Agriculture.
The A1 amendment makes several substantive changes described by the author: it replaces the term "person" with "eligible applicant," changes cost‑sharing tiers (increasing the program match on the first $20,000 to 50% and lowering the cap for a higher tier to $200,000), and clarifies that eligible animals include those raised for food, fiber, meat or breeding stock. Representative Nelson said the changes respond to barriers small and beginning producers face when making modest investments (examples: t‑post fencing, hauling equipment) because prior 10% limits made the paperwork disproportionate to the reimbursement.
Tessa Sedai Parks, a beginning farmer and owner of WT Farms, offered a first‑hand account of barriers for new and rented‑land operations. She said small investments (a new cattle trailer, temporary fencing, watering systems) can be critical but are not worth the administrative effort under the prior grant structure. "For a $4,000 project, we would still need to come up with $3,600 or spend additional time applying for a loan," she told the committee.
Courtney Vandermey, who manages the Livestock Investment Grant for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, told the committee the agency’s typical award ranges from $400 to $25,000 in grant amount (spending between $4,000 and $250,000) with an average project around $17,000. Vandermey confirmed the agency’s current practice is to cap spending at $250,000, and said lowering administrative barriers and increasing match on small projects would likely increase program use.
The A1 amendment was adopted by voice vote, and Representative Nelson moved the bill to be laid over; the committee laid House File 1796 over for further consideration.
