Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to improve water quality and promote sustainable agriculture in Minnesota by establishing the Biofertilizer Innovation and Efficiency Program. This program aims to incentivize farmers to manage nitrogen use more efficiently by incorporating innovative biofertilizers and technologies into their crop nutrient management plans.

Main Provisions

• Establishment of Program: The bill mandates the creation of a program to encourage nitrogen management innovations, developed in consultation with the commissioner of natural resources and soil and water conservation districts.
• Farmer Incentives: Farmers who participate and reduce their use of commercial nitrogen fertilizers are eligible for payments. They must show a reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use by at least 15% or 30 pounds per acre.
• Payment Rates: A minimum per-acre payment rate of $5 is established. This rate is subject to review and possible adjustment annually based on inflation and advances in fertilizer technology.
• Farmer Qualifications: To qualify, farmers must be Minnesota residents with farmland in the state and provide documentation of their nutrient management plans. They must enroll at least 40 acres of eligible farmland.
• Review and Updates: Every two years, the program’s requirements and qualifying products will be reviewed to incorporate new technologies and potentially increase the nitrogen reduction rate.
• Rulemaking Requirement: The commissioner must develop rules to implement and manage the program effectively.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill adds a definition for "Commercial nitrogen fertilizer" in the Minnesota Statutes, specifying it as a fertilizer with at least 25% nitrogen content.
• A new program is introduced under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 18C to encourage the use of biofertilizers and innovative nitrogen management.

Relevant Terms

• Biofertilizer
• Nitrogen management
• Fertilizer innovation
• Nitrogen-fixing
• Soil amendments
• Sustainable agriculture
• Crop nutrient management