MN SF4024

Creates separate legal definition for farmed elk (Cervus canadensis) distinct from other farmed Cervidae, excluding elk from general farmed Cervidae regulations for purposes of sections 35.153 and 35.155.

Establishes mandatory registration and control requirements for all farmed Cervidae and farmed elk, including 96-inch minimum fencing, identification visible at 50 yards, annual veterinary inventory verification, and chronic wasting disease testing for animals over 16 months.

Requires owners to report escaped farmed Cervidae or elk to the commissioner of natural resources within 24 hours; allows commissioner to destroy unrecaptured animals after 24 hours.

Prohibits raising farmed red deer in the native elk area (north of U.S. Highway 2 and west of U.S. Highway 71 and Trunk Highway 72) without written commissioner approval.

Establishes voluntary herd buyout program in fiscal year 2019 for registered deer farmers, with participating owners required to sign contracts preventing any wild or farmed Cervidae on premises for a specified duration and record deed restrictions with county recorder.