By Scout Nelson
Minnesota lawmakers have reached an agreement on a new agriculture funding bill during the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session. This progress comes despite a 67-67 split in House membership, which made committee decisions more difficult. The agriculture committee, composed of equal members from both parties, managed to craft a balanced bill after days of negotiation.
A major priority in the bill is continued support for the Board of Animal Health. This funding helps the agency respond to livestock disease threats, such as the highly pathogenic bird flu that has affected poultry in recent years. With concerns about the virus moving into dairy cattle, funding ensures strong disease monitoring and prevention.
Another highlight of the bill is fee relief. Legislators agreed not to raise grain inspection fees, which would have increased costs for grain elevators significantly—by more than 200 percent in some cases. Given the current economic pressure on the agriculture industry, the decision was made to avoid any new financial burdens.
The bill also includes funding support for dairy producers. This helps them cover costs related to enrolling in the federal margin protection program, which becomes crucial when the next farm bill is passed. Additional funding is directed toward county agricultural inspectors and to assist farmers in northern Minnesota dealing with wolf and elk damage.
A new and innovative part of the bill introduces an incentive for farmers to reduce their nitrogen fertilizer use. By applying a biologic product that helps corn fix its own nitrogen—like how soybeans naturally do—farmers can earn at least $5.00 per acre if they lower nitrogen use by 30 pounds per acre.
This bipartisan effort shows how cooperation can support both environmental goals and agricultural resilience across Minnesota.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-d-keine
Categories: Minnesota, Government & Policy, Livestock, Dairy Cattle