HF653

Purpose

This bill changes how money is moved and spent within Minnesota’s agricultural research and education programs. It transfers funds into the Agriculture Research Education Extension and Technology Transfer (AGREETT) account and directs specific grants and projects to strengthen agricultural research, education, extension, and technology transfer in the state.

Key Provisions

• Transfer of funds to AGREETT account

  • In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, 11,102,000 is transferred from the General Fund to the AGREETT account (within the agricultural fund, per Minnesota Statutes).
  • The base amount for these transfers in fiscal year 2028 and every year after remains 11,102,000.

• Appropriation for AGREETT programs

  • In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, 11,102,000 is appropriated from the AGREETT account to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the AGREETT grant program.
  • The money used should supplement, not replace, existing funding sources where possible.
  • The Commissioner may use up to 1% of this appropriation for program administration.

• Specific program allocations (for 2026 and 2027)

  • Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Stations agriculture rapid response fund: 600,000 per year.
  • Research on avian influenza, salmonella, and other turkey-related diseases and related prevention measures: up to 1,000,000 per year.
  • Grants to the Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council (MAELC) to expand agricultural education, with priority to farm business management and related areas: 3,000,000 per year. Funding decisions should prioritize faculty with expertise in farm transition planning, rural mental health, and growing specialty crops in urban areas.
  • Potato breeding: 350,000 per year.
  • Forever Green Initiative: 802,000 per year, aimed at protecting natural resources and boosting efficiency, profitability, and productivity by using perennial and winter-annual crops. The annual allocation becomes the funding base from fiscal year 2028 onward. The dean of the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences must annually report by February 1 to the relevant legislative chairs and ranking minority members about how these funds were used, including administrative costs and achievements.
  • Wild rice research
  • Natural stands research: 200,000 per year.
  • Cultivated wild rice forward selection project at the North Central Research and Outreach Center: 250,000 per year, including support for a tenure-track or research associate plant scientist.
  • The base funding for these allocations becomes 11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter.

• Reporting and oversight

  • For Forever Green and related funds, the University of Minnesota’s Dean must submit annual reports detailing fund uses, administrative costs, and achievements to legislative chairs and ranking minority members.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a fixed annual base transfer of 11,102,000 to the AGREETT account beginning in 2026-2027 and setting a continued base of 11,102,000 from 2028 onward.
• Creates specific, year-by-year allocations within AGREETT grants for targeted programs (avian diseases research, MAELC education grants, plant breeding, Forever Green, wild rice projects, etc.).
• Authorizes administrative costs up to 1% of the AGREETT appropriation.
• Adds mandatory annual reporting requirements from the University of Minnesota related to Forever Green and other funded initiatives.
• Reiterates that funds should supplement rather than supplant existing funding where practicable.

Purpose-Driven Impacts

• Strengthens funding for agricultural research, education, extension, and technology transfer through AGREETT.
• Targets critical issues (petri dish-level disease research in poultry, wild rice research, potato breeding, and perennial/winter-annual crop development) to improve farm productivity and sustainability.
• Supports farmer-focused education and leadership development (MAELC), with emphasis on transitions, rural mental health, and urban specialty crops.
• Encourages rapid response capacity for agricultural threats (e.g., avian influenza, salmonella).

Relevant Date and Timing - Specific funding amounts apply to fiscal years 2026 and 2027. - A base funding level of 11,102,000 is established for fiscal year 2028 and onward.

Relevant Terms - AGREETT account - Agriculture Research Education Extension and Technology Transfer (AGREETT) - Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Stations - avian influenza - salmonella - turkey-related diseases - MAELC (Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council) - farm business management - farm transition planning - rural mental health - specialty crops (urban areas) - Forever Green Initiative - perennial crops - winter-annual crops - wild rice (natural stands; cultivated forward selection) - North Central Research and Outreach Center - tenure track / research associate plant scientist - University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences - administrative costs (up to 1%) - supplement not supplant (funding principle) - reporting requirements to legislative chairs and members