Minnesota agriculture officials warn federal funding freeze threatens inspections, grants and emergency response

Commissioner Tom Peterson of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture told a Senate committee on Feb. 17 that about 10% of the department’s nearly $400 million biennial budget comes from federal funds and that a recent freeze and federal personnel changes are creating “real concern” for inspection, grant and emergency programs. "We are working with our congressional delegation," Peterson said. "But the positions, you know, I will say are concerning, and we'll see how this plays out."

The department and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health described several programs affected or at risk, including meat and poultry inspection, laboratory grants, invasive pest control and grants tied to climate and conservation work. Michelle Medina, director of government relations for the Department of Agriculture and the Board of Animal Health, told the committee that roughly 70% of the board’s fiscal 2024 budget came from federal cooperative agreements with USDA APHIS and that cuts or delays would sharply reduce staffing and disease-response capabilities. "If this funding was eliminated or reduced, the board would have a rather large budget deficit, particularly in staffing and…