Minn. Senate Ag Committee hears multiple agriculture grants; veterans bill amended and sent to judiciary

The Minnesota Senate Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development met March 12, 2025, to hear a slate of bills including appropriations for horticulture programming, county agricultural inspector grants, livestock investment grant changes, support for processing facilities, and a University of Minnesota presentation on a proposed FARM research hub and biomanufacturing facilities.

The committee adopted an amendment to Senate File 1894, debated several appropriation bills that were laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus, and accepted author amendments to the Livestock Investment Grant program before laying that bill over for further work. The University of Minnesota delivered a 25-minute presentation on a proposed FARM research site, precision agriculture investments and a new biomanufacturing pilot-scale facility.

Senate File 1894: amendment adopted, referred to Judiciary Senate File 1894, a bill addressing individuals who profit from veterans disability claims, was discussed early in the hearing. Senator Andrew Putnam (author) said the bill “builds off the great work started by Senator Anderson 2017” and that penalties language still needed review by Judiciary. The committee adopted the A7 amendment, which removed a requirement referencing federal accreditation and instead defined covered activities as work performed by “a person seeking to receive compensation in connection with benefits.” After the amendment was adopted, Senator Putnam moved that SF 1894 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary; the motion was carried by voice vote and the file was sent to Judiciary for consideration of penalties and enforcement details.

Horticultural society appropriation (SF 2217) laid over Senator Karin Seaburger presented Senate File 22-17, seeking $210,000 from the general fund across the upcoming biennium for the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. Paul Marquardt, identified as the treasurer and a member of the board of directors for the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, told the committee, “We are a hundred and 59 year old organization,” and described signature programs the funding would expand: the quarterly Northern Gardener publication, the Garden in a Box education program, and the Minnesota Green surplus-distribution effort. Fiscal staff said the society received a one-time appropriation of $68,000 in fiscal 2024; SF 22-17 would provide $100,000 in fiscal 2026 and $110,000 in fiscal 2027. The file was laid over for possible inclusion.

County agricultural inspector grants (SF 1831) proposed $2 million; eligibility requirements discussed Senate File 18-31 would appropriate $2,000,000 from the general fund for county agricultural (noxious weed) inspector grants, with up to 3% available for Department of Agriculture (MDA) administrative costs. Bob Dunning, representing the Association of County…