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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rod Hamilton (R)

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RELEASE: HOUSE PASSES AGRICULTURE BUDGET BILL

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

 

SAINT PAUL- Today the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the Legislature’s Agriculture Conference Committee report on a bipartisan vote of 77-53. This conference committee report for the Agriculture Omnibus bill, SF780, was also passed earlier in the day by the Minnesota Senate. The House and Senate agreement combines a number of spending and policy provisions aimed at supporting the Ag industry which is critical to Minnesota.

“This agreement focuses on plant habitat and health across our state,” said House Agriculture Finance Chair Rod Hamilton (R- Mountain Lake). “We are investing in our ag industry for the long-term, and I was pleased to come to such a strong agreement with the Senate.”

The bill dedicates significant investments to the following Ag issue areas:

  • $3 million per year for value-added agriculture grants, and $3 million per year in livestock investment grants.
  • Ag emergencies, such as Avian Flu, and noxious weeds like Palmer amarath.
  • Rapid response to plant pests and pathogens.
  • Growing and diversifying our agro-economy, in areas like industrial hemp and biofuel.
  • Continued support for production agriculture research, farm safety, tractor rollover prevention, Ag Education, and youth development.
  • Creating a dedicated Pollinator Habitat and Research account.
  • Creates a Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention pilot program to invest in non-lethal means of preventing wolf attacks on livestock.

Special focus in this bill is given to plant agriculture, emerging noxious weed threats (specifically palmer amaranth), and investment in the future of agricultural practices and technologies.

This bill will now be sent to Governor Dayton for his signature.

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