MN SF5355

Establishes state goals for clean water, climate-smart, and soil-healthy farming: by 2030, at least 50 percent of tillable acres using cover cropping and no-till or strip-till practices, and at least 40 percent using precision nutrient management; by 2040, 100 percent of tillable acres using all three practices.

Creates a pilot program in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona Counties and specific townships in Dakota and Rice Counties to provide $15 per acre direct payments to eligible farmers using required practices, or $20 per acre using required practices plus additional practices like perennial cropping or organic production.

Extends the 40 cents per ton fertilizer fee until June 30, 2024, and redirects revenue from that fee to a new clean water, climate-smart, and soil-healthy farming account after that date to fund the pilot program.

Classifies farmer names, locations, and contact information associated with soil health or water quality data as private or nonpublic data, but classifies similar information related to financial assistance applications or payments as public data.

Requires the Board of Water and Soil Resources and Commissioner of Agriculture to monitor soil health and water quality indicators, report program outcomes annually to legislative committees, and explore establishing a Minnesota carbon credit market for program participants.