SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Thursday, the Senate passed the omnibus agriculture, broadband, and rural development budget bill authored by Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) with bipartisan support. The bill invests in Minnesota farmers and supports statewide broadband access.
“I am proud of the work we put in to reach this budget agreement,” said Senator Aric Putnam.“We listened to the voices of Minnesota farmers. This bill was written in town halls and listening sessions, not in a committee room in St. Paul. We worked on what was best for Minnesotans not what was convenient for a political party. We are investing $48 million for the needs of our farmers and $100 million for broadband development to connect Minnesotans in every corner of the state. Agriculture has been vital to Minnesota’s economy, and this historic investment will bring stability to farmers and help people across the state.”
Some highlights of the omnibus budget bill, SF 1955, include:
- $100 million in fiscal year 2024 and 2025 to expand broadband access throughout the state.
- $10 million in fiscal year 2024 for a grain indemnity fund to protect Minnesota farmers.
- $8 million ($4 million in fiscal year 2024-2025 and $4 million in fiscal year 2026-2027) to create funding for urban youth agriculture education and urban agriculture community development grants.
- Over $2 million ($1.25 million fiscal year 2024-2025 and $1.278 million FY 2026-2027) in soil health equipment grants to help farmers make their farmland more resilient to extreme weather events, retain topsoil, build organic matter, and promote water quality.
- $1 million to support emerging and beginning farmers with farm down payment assistance.
###
Learn more about Sen. Putnam.
Read more news from Sen. Putnam.