SF2057

This bill, Minnesota Senate File No. 2057, focuses on economic development and agriculture by providing funding to support continuous living cover crops and related systems in their early commercial development stages. The key provisions of the bill include:

• Appropriation of $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development.
• The funds will be used for grants to organizations in Minnesota to help develop enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous living cover crops.
• Eligible projects include regenerative poultry, silvopasture systems, and crops such as Kernza perennial grain, winter camelina, and elderberry.
• The commissioner of employment and economic development, in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture, will oversee the grant distribution.
• Organizations cannot receive grants from multiple agencies for the same purpose within the same calendar year.
• A report is required by January 15, 2027, detailing the use of grant funds, including how much was spent on administration.
• This is a one-time appropriation.

The bill aims to promote sustainable agriculture and economic growth by supporting early-stage commercial efforts in perennial and regenerative cropping systems.