Rotational grazing pilot program establishment and appropriation

1.1 A bill for an act​ 1.2 relating to agriculture; establishing a rotational grazing pilot program; requiring​ 1.3 a report; appropriating money.​ 1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​ 1.5 Section 1. ROTATIONAL GRAZING PILOT PROGRAM.​ 1.6 Subdivision 1. Administration. The commissioner of agriculture must establish and​ 1.7 administer a rotational grazing pilot program that awards grants to Minnesota farmers for​ 1.8 rotational grazing projects to enhance the use of prairies and woodlands and help protect​ 1.9 surface or drinking water sources. For purposes of this program, "rotational grazing" means​ 1.10 a livestock grazing system in which fields are subdivided into smaller paddocks, livestock​ 1.11 density is controlled, and livestock is rotated through paddocks at a frequency that maintains​ 1.12 vegetative cover, ensures regular access to fresh forage, and reduces soil compaction and​ 1.13 erosion.​ 1.14 Subd. 2. Grant purposes. The commissioner must award grants to Minnesota farmers​ 1.15 for either of the following purposes:​ 1.16 (1) to establish perennial forages for rotational grazing of livestock; or​ 1.17 (2) to purchase rotational grazing system infrastructure, including fencing, watering,​ 1.18 and other livestock management infrastructure to support rotational grazing of livestock.​ 1.19 Rotational grazing of perennial forage or cover crops that help protect surface or drinking​ 1.20 water sources are permitted purposes under this clause.​ 1.21 Subd. 3. Awarding grants. (a) Grants under subdivision 2 must only be awarded to a​ 1.22 Minnesota farmer implementing a new rotational grazing system in Minnesota or a new​ 1​Section 1.​ 26-06493 as introduced​01/14/26 REVISOR BD/NS​ SENATE​ STATE OF MINNESOTA​ S.F. No. 3686​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​ (SENATE AUTHORS: WESTROM, Howe and Lang)​ OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​ Introduction and first reading​02/19/2026​ Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development​ 2.1 rotational grazing practice that improves the conservation and water protection of existing​ 2.2 grazing systems in Minnesota.​ 2.3 (b) The department must not award more than $25,000 in grants to any one grantee.​ 2.4 (c) All grant money must be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. The commissioner​ 2.5 must reimburse a grantee under this section within six months after confirming that the​ 2.6 grantee has completed necessary grazing systems updates. A grantee must provide evidence​ 2.7 of successful implementation of rotational grazing practices to receive reimbursement.​ 2.8 (d) A grant agreement must include a 50 percent match from the farmer. A match includes​ 2.9 services, materials, or cash that the grantee contributed to accomplish grant objectives.​ 2.10 Subd. 4. Report. By January 15, 2028, the commissioner must report to the chairs and​ 2.11 ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over agriculture​ 2.12 and the environment and natural resources trust fund on the results of the grant awards under​ 2.13 this section, including the number, amount, and distribution by county of grant awards.​ 2.14 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.​ 2.15 $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the environment and natural resources​ 2.16 trust fund to the commissioner of agriculture for the rotational grazing pilot program.​ 2​Sec. 2.​ 26-06493 as introduced​01/14/26 REVISOR BD/NS​