Minnesota farmers could get grants toward farmland purchases

The agriculture commissioner may award grants to help eligible farmers make a down payment on farmland. Applicants must live in Minnesota, intend to buy Minnesota farmland, and do most of the farm's daily work and management. They may have no more than $250,000 in yearly farm product sales and must meet the other listed eligibility rules. A grant may cover up to 30 percent of the purchase price, capped at $20,000, and must be matched with at least $8,000 from another source. Applicants must meet the residence, farm work, sales, income or experience, net worth, ownership, and family rules. Recipients must own and farm the land for at least five years and each year show at least $1,000 in farm income or investment in the farm business; a recipient who does not do so owes 20 percent of the grant for each year not completed. These grant rules take effect July 1, 2026. A separate $1.25 million grant appropriation is for the second year and remains available until June 30, 2030.

People must not import, sell, grow, or transport certain noxious weeds or their parts that can produce new plants, except as allowed by permit. The rules apply to noxious weeds in the listed categories and plant parts that could produce new plants. The restrictions cover weeds in the prohibited-eradicate, prohibited-control, and restricted categories. Permit exceptions may apply, including for disposal or approved research, education, or outreach. An inspector must try to contact a landowner before entering to inspect. The landowner must allow entry if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe noxious weeds may be present. The commissioner may exempt a plant variety if credible information shows it is bred for low seed production, is sterile, or has low risk of spreading.

A grower seeking to produce certified seed potatoes must meet the listed certification, inspection, storage, and labeling requirements. These requirements cover growers who apply to produce Minnesota-certified seed potatoes and the fields and lots they submit. The commissioner must inspect fields and lots and may reject them for disease, weak or missing plants, or other conditions that prevent a satisfactory inspection. Some seed classes require winter testing. The commissioner may accept comprehensive lab testing instead when special circumstances, such as a natural disaster, make winter testing impractical or impossible. Growers must meet the applicable standards before labeling potatoes as certified seed potatoes.

Charitable food programs may distribute certain eggs after their quality assurance date if they meet the listed safeguards. This applies to eggs distributed to consumers through charitable food assistance programs. Eggs must be in their original packaging, have been candled and graded, and stay refrigerated. The package must name the food program, give a distribute-by date, and say the eggs are donated and not for resale. Consumers must receive the eggs before 30 days have passed from the original quality assurance date.