Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday signed the Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing budget in a ceremonial signing with representatives from all sectors of agriculture in attendance.

The budget bill was part of several bills passed out of the Legislature during a special session May 24. Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin), chairwoman of the House Agriculture and Food Finance Committee and chief author of the bill, attended the signing.

“We recognize and value our hardworking neighbors who put in long hours and experience the daily stresses of farming and ranching. Minnesota is a strong agricultural state and by Gov. Walz hosting this bill signing we give a much-deserved recognition of the effort our ag producers do for all of us,” Poppe said. “Not only are we investing in new and innovative ways to promote and enhance agriculture, we’re also delivering sorely-needed solutions to family farms that remain the backbone of Minnesota’s ag and food economies.”

The bill is being hailed as a catch-all for this session according to Poppe, who spoke a little more at length Wednesday and who sees this money being able to be spread among a number of different areas.

“There’s money for dairy, soybean, emergency preparedness … it really covers all ag including new and emerging areas,” Poppe said.

The need for mental health care and crisis assistance in rural communities has become more evident as economic times remain unsteady. This budget includes a multi-pronged solution by supporting an additional rural mental health provider and increasing funds for hiring within the Minnesota Farm Advocates program.

Money was also included to allow for additional rural outreach and training resources at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

“There’s a lot more awareness now,” Poppe said. “There are a lot more activities happening that help people understand that they should be asking for help.”

As Minnesota’s family farms continue to struggle with weather, prices and unreliable trade strategies, this budget will establish mutually beneficial markets by providing fresh produce to Minnesota’s students through the Farm to School program. Increased funding in trade and marketing efforts at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will also be put to good use selling the products of our farmers at home and abroad.

A lack of reliable, high-speed broadband internet service remains a significant barrier for many of Minnesota’s communities, making it difficult for students to learn and for small businesses to compete. The final bill includes a $40 million investment in the state’s border-to-border broadband program, delivering rural communities access to the internet speeds they deserve.

This has been seen by many in the ag industry as a necessary step in giving farmers and small businesses equal footing in being able to remain competitive.

“I think broadband is really important to try and get to remote parts of the state that don’t have access to broadband and high speed internet,” Poppe said. “But, there are people in the House that say, ‘no, we now have satellites going into space, we don’t need to put things in the ground.’

“It comes with some controversy, but not in rural Minnesota,” Poppe continued. “They are saying, ‘we need this.’”

While the bill is seen as a success in many branching areas for the state of Minnesota, there is more to look at down the line.

Things like continuing to watch for African swine fever, chronic wasting disease and other invasive pests all wait on the horizon as well as taking a closer look at things like the growing hemp industry that’s gaining more and more momentum in the state.

“Hemp … has just exploded,” Poppe said. “People are looking for alternative crops and hemp is easy to do if it can get a market. CBD oil is one of those places. Something like hemp is certainly looking to grow.”

Poppe and other legislators will also concentrate on protecting family dairy operations of the small and medium variety in an attempt to stem the tide of those farms going out of business.

 

Other highlights of the investments for Minnesota’s agriculture sector

• $8 million for the Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI), ($5 million in the Ag bill and $3 million in the jobs/economic development bill)

• $5 million for a new Soybean Innovation Campus in northwestern Minnesota

• Research funding targeting diseases harmful to the agricultural economy

• Emergency preparedness money for MDA and Board of Animal Health

• Development of the state’s burgeoning industrial hemp economy

• Ongoing dollars to support and upgrade the MDA lab facilities