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Panel backs continued funding for farm mental health and safety outreach; amendment expands worker eligibility
Summary
Committee accepted an author amendment and laid over House File 1702, which would appropriate $100,000 in fiscal 2026 and $100,000 in fiscal 2027 for farm and rural mental health and safety outreach administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The House Ag Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony and accepted an amendment on House File 1702, a bill that would fund farm and rural mental health and safety outreach through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Chair Anderson presented the bill on behalf of Representative Franson and described the measure as continuing the committee’s work on farm safety and mental health. The bill would appropriate $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2027 to the Department of Agriculture for outreach and support targeted at farmers, ranchers and the agricultural community.
Tom Peterson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and several agricultural organizations testified in support. Peterson noted past investments in farm safety education and mental health outreach and told the committee that the department supports continuing the work. Gail Donkers, a farmer testifying for Minnesota Farmers Union, described personal experience with MDA-supported training and the farm and rural helpline, saying the resources were ‘‘invaluable’’ and that trainings such as the four‑hour SafeTALK workshop were in demand. Hunter Peterson of the Minnesota Farm Bureau also voiced support for continued funding and safety grants.
Representative Hansen offered an A1 amendment to clarify that programs funded by the bill also apply to farm employees and workers; Representative Anderson accepted the amendment as friendly and the committee adopted it by voice vote. With the amendment adopted, the committee laid the bill over for further consideration.
Witnesses said the appropriation previously leveraged federal funds and that the outreach program has been used for grain‑bin and tractor safety, the farm and rural helpline, training programs and county-level events. Commissioner Peterson noted the department maintains resources and outreach channels for mental health and that PPE and related supports have been available through prior efforts.
House File 1702 as amended was laid over for possible inclusion in the committee’s package or future budget negotiations.
