Ongoing funding proposed for soil health program
A Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) supported pilot program that is providing farmers with grants for soil health projects and equipment could get ongoing state funding.
Sponsored by state Sen. Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights), SF1245 would allocate $10 million in 2024, $2 million in 2025, and $2 million per year in the base budgets to the state’s Soil Health Financial Assistance grant program. The Legislature established the program in 2022 thanks to advocacy by MCGA and a coalition of ag groups.
The bipartisan bill was heard Monday by the Senate Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee. Its companion, HF1316, is sponsored by Rep. Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield) and awaits action by the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee.
“No group understands the value of soil more, nor suffers greatest from its loss, than our farmers,” Gustafson said.
[More: Watch video of the hearing on SF1245]
Minnesota farmers are interested in implementing practices that build soil health, such as reduced tillage, precision agriculture, manure management, crop rotations, and cover cropping. But the costs of the equipment, technology, and subscriptions needed to implement the practices can be a barrier.
To reduce this barrier, the state Legislature established the Soil Health Financial Assistance grant program and allocated $500,000 to it. Applications for the program opened earlier this winter and will be open through March 20.
The program, which is voluntary and inclusive of a broad set of best practices, is open to producers, producer groups, and local government units. It will reimburse grantees for up to half the cost of purchasing new or used equipment to establish, improve, or accelerate soil health.
Eligible expenses include parts and materials to retrofit existing equipment, down payments on equipment, subscriptions or equipment technology for precision agriculture, technical assistance for conservation plans, and more. Grants can range from $500 to $50,000.
[More: Apply for a soil health financial assistance grant]
In testimony Monday, MCGA First Vice President Dana Allen-Tully said there’s great interest among farmers in implementing soil-health practices. She said she appreciates the bill’s recognition of the wide array of practices that can improve soil health. “What happens on my farm, or what works on my farm, may not work on my neighbor’s.”
MCGA thanks the bipartisan group of state lawmakers who are supporting SF1245. We look forward to securing additional funding for soil health this legislative session.
