Agriculture omnibus conferees reach agreement

The 10-member conference committee on the omnibus agriculture finance bill reached agreement Monday on a final version of the legislation.  

Sponsored by Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) and Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake), HF895/SF780* would appropriate more than $100 million during the upcoming biennium to fund the Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health and Agricultural Utilization Research Institute.

Those General Fund direct appropriations include:

• Department of Agriculture - $101.88 million
• Board of Animal Health - $10.77 million
• AURI - $7.29 million

The bill would also provide funding for farmer-led councils meant to help implement the state’s buffer laws; provide money for research to prevent avian influenza; establish a pollinator habitat and research account; appropriate funds to manage the state’s industrial hemp pilot program; and fund reimbursement payments for destroyed or crippled livestock.