HF271

Purpose

Provide funding from the general fund to compensate Minnesota farmers and landowners for losses caused by wolves and elk, under the state depredation compensation programs.

Main Provisions

• Funding for wolves: For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the commissioner of agriculture receives a general fund appropriation to pay compensation to livestock owners for animals destroyed or crippled by wolves (under Minnesota Statutes section 3.737).
• Funding for elk: For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the commissioner of agriculture receives a general fund appropriation to pay compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk (under Minnesota Statutes section 3.7371).
• Cross-year fund use: If the amount in the first year is not enough, the money from the second year can be used in the first year.
• Extension agent reimbursements: Up to $5,000 of the appropriation each year may be used to reimburse university extension agents for providing fair market values of destroyed or crippled livestock.
• Reallocation for high claims: If claims under 3.737 or 3.7371 are unusually high, the commissioner may move money between the two programs to cover the purposes of this section.

Funding and Administration

• Source: General fund
• Administered by: Commissioner of Agriculture
• Related statutes: Minnesota Statutes 3.737 (wolves) and 3.7371 (elk)
• Purpose of funds: Compensation payments for livestock losses (wolves) and crop/fence damage (elk); plus reimbursement costs for extension agents' valuation work.

Significance and Changes

• Introduces a two-year appropriation that can be bridged across years if needed, improving cash flow for depredation claims.
• Adds a mechanism to reimburse extension agents for valuing losses, aiding in determining fair market value for claims.
• Adds flexibility to reallocate funds between wolf-related losses and elk-related damages in cases of unusually high claims, allowing resources to be directed where needed.

Section Reference

• Section 1 establishes the depredation payments appropriation mechanism for wolves and elk for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, including the cross-year funding provision, extension agent reimbursements, and cross-program reallocation.

Relevant Terms - depredation payments - wolves - elk - livestock destroyed or crippled - crop damage - fence damage - university extension agents - fair market values - Minnesota Statutes 3.737 - Minnesota Statutes 3.7371 - general fund - commissioner of agriculture - appropriation - cross-year funding - unusually high claims - reallocation