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Budget hearing spotlights specialty-crop grants, bioscience and grape-and-wine funds; several requests moved to one-time or omitted
Summary
Committee reviewed a range of grant and program requests: federal specialty crop block grant increases and carryover, a $5.5 million bioscience innovation grant request omitted by the House, $660,000 livestock planning carryover, and a proposed $80,000 grape-and-wine grant removed by a House change.
Senate appropriators examined multiple grant lines and program requests during the Department of Agriculture budget hearing convened March 6.
Staff summarized that the Armstrong executive recommendation included $5.5 million in special funds authority for bioscience innovation grants; the House did not include that funding. The executive also requested $660,000 for the livestock planning program; staff said the department did not require additional funding but carryover authority for unexpended funds was provided in subsection 2 of section 14.
Committee members reviewed federal specialty crop block grant authority. Staff said North Dakota continues to receive significant specialty-crop funds used for research, marketing and production support for pulse crops, potatoes and other qualifying crops; testimony said North Dakota ranks among the top states for specialty-crop activity and receives roughly $7.09 million base with incremental adjustments (a $1.968 million line was discussed).
The panel also discussed an $80,000 grape-and-wine grant that the House removed from the department budget. Commissioner Goren said the program provides research and marketing support for vineyards and wineries and has supported cultivar development and promotion; the department told the committee the program helps both vineyards and wineries and leverages other partner funds. Goren said the program has helped create a wine trail and cultivars sought in the Upper Midwest.
Staff and the commissioner said other grant adjustments included a $300,000 COVID specialty crop block grant that the department requested but staff included as an exemption/carryover authority rather than a new appropriation, and a $500,000 reduction in the post-production royalty oversight program budget (funded from the abandoned oil-and-gas reclamation fund) after consolidation of multiple programs into one funding line.
Ending: Committee members signaled they will continue to reconcile which program requests should be carried forward, which require carryover authority, and which should be restored as ongoing funding in conference negotiations.
