MN SF3479

Appropriates $6,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 for drought relief grants to livestock farmers ($5,000,000) and specialty crop producers ($1,500,000) impacted by the 2021 drought, with payments up to $5,000 on a first-come, first-served basis for producers in USDA-designated disaster counties.

Allocates up to $100,000 for reimbursing livestock farmers at $6.60 per mile for feed transportation costs up to 25 miles, for expenses not covered by the USDA Emergency Assistance for Livestock program.

Appropriates $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 to the Rural Finance Authority revolving loan account for drought relief loans, with any unused balance available for other Rural Finance Authority programs.

Appropriates $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 to purchase veterinary disease testing equipment at the University of Minnesota to test for chronic wasting disease, African swine fever, avian influenza, and other animal diseases.

Appropriates $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 to compensate farmed white-tailed deer owners for expenses and lost revenue from movement bans imposed between December 2019 and December 2021, and $500,000 for transfer to the agricultural emergency account for avian influenza testing supplies through December 31, 2022.