Senate passes agriculture omnibus bill funding avian influenza response, local food programs and wolf/elk depredation accounts

The Minnesota Senate on April 30 passed House File 2446, the omnibus agriculture bill. The package includes emergency preparedness for animal disease, local food and food‑access investments, and support for producers facing wildlife depredation.

Sponsor Senator John Putnam outlined policy priorities including renewal of support for infrared deterrent equipment used by turkey producers to slow avian influenza spread, a $1.5 million transfer to the agriculture department’s emergency account for livestock responses, expanded local food purchasing and farm‑to‑school allocations, and $400,000 for wolf and elk depredation accounts.

Putnam called the bill a response to “historic challenges” for Minnesota agriculture — weather, rising input costs, and federal program uncertainty — and secured floor acceptance of several friendly amendments, including technical fixes and small expansions for meat and food processing grant programs. Senator Lang’s and Senator Farnsworth’s amendments to expand small‑processor funding and depredation support were debated; some were accepted as friendly and others were considered in roll calls. The bill was adopted by the Senate (vote recorded in transcript as 43–23) and sent on to the next step in the process.

Supporters said the funding will help producers and increase food access across the state; some members pressed for longer‑term funding solutions for communications and public‑safety radio replacement rather than ad hoc transfers.