MN SF3737

Commissioner of agriculture must establish and administer a grant program to support healthy soil management practices on agricultural land.

Commissioner must develop a healthy soil management plan by December 31, 2023, and every two years thereafter, in consultation with University of Minnesota, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and environmental and agricultural organizations.

Eligible projects include practices that increase soil organic carbon (reduced tillage, cover cropping, manure management, precision agriculture, crop rotations, grazing management changes), integrate perennial vegetation, reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions, increase precision agriculture usage, develop site-specific management plans, or purchase equipment and technical assistance.

Any land owner or lessee may apply for grants, with limitations that no single recipient may receive more than 10 percent of appropriated funds and no more than 5 percent of appropriation may be used for program administration.

$5,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund for fiscal year 2023, with a base appropriation of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 and subsequent years.