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Committee advances voluntary ‘4R’ nutrient stewardship bill after industry and conservation testimony
Summary
House File 1524 would create a voluntary incentive program to certify ag retailers under 4R nutrient-management standards; committee referred the bill to Judiciary, Finance and Civil Law after testimony from crop retailers, a co-op technical specialist and debate among members.
The Minnesota House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee voted to send House File 1524 to the Committee on Judiciary, Finance and Civil Law after members heard testimony from industry and technical witnesses about a voluntary, incentive-based program built on the ’4R’ principles for nutrient stewardship.
Representative Harder, the bill’s author, described the measure as a voluntary, incentive-based approach that “leverages the expertise of our ag retailers using best management practices.” Lee Helgen, executive director of Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, told the committee the bill provides a $5,000 payment to co-ops to become 4R certified and authorizes per-acre payments “for being able to document which of those practices are being implemented,” roughly 50¢ an acre and an additional 25¢ where a certified crop advisor is used.
Amy Robock, lead environmental specialist with Centra Soda Coop, described the 4R Stewardship Certification Program as a facility-level certification that encourages retailers and independent crop consultants to adopt best management practices and record-keeping systems. Robock said the program identifies practices such as soil testing every four years, variable-rate nutrient applications, enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, cover cropping, edge-of-field conservation, and in‑season nutrient monitoring.
Several committee members questioned whether adding taxpayer-funded incentives would produce measurable water-quality outcomes. Representative Hansen said, “After 36 years of voluntary management practices, now the state is being asked to pay even more,” and pressed witnesses for evidence the program would deliver different results than prior voluntary efforts. Lee Helgen and others argued the program’s scale — reaching more acres through retailer engagement and certified crop advisors — is what would make the difference.
Representative Harder moved the bill for referral; members approved the referral by voice vote. The committee did not adopt amendments during the hearing; the bill will next be considered in the Judiciary, Finance and Civil Law Committee.
