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S.F. No. 1859 - Agriculture Policy
 
Author: Senator Bill Weber
 
Prepared By:
 
Date: March 4, 2019



 

Sections 1 to 4 [AFREC extension] extends the 40 cent per ton fertilizer surcharge and the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education program an additional ten years to 2030.

Section 5 [Storage of nursery stock] allows the commissioner of agriculture to approve additional nursery stock management practices.

Section 6 [Industrial hemp definition] modifies the definition of “industrial hemp” to include seeds and plant derivatives.

Section 7 [Industrial hemp rules] allows for use of the expedited rulemaking process for industrial hemp rules.

Section 8 [Technical] clarifies the definition of “drug” for the purposes of the commercial feed law.

Sections 9, 10, and 14 [Custom exempt food handler license] establishes a custom exempt food handler license and fees.

Sections 11 to 13 [Delegation of food handler licensing and inspection] expands the delegation agreements with local governments to include all food handlers, otherwise licensed by the MDA.

Section 15 [Eggs in possession of a retailer] allows grade A eggs to be held by a retailer up to 46 days past the pack date, rather than the current 31 days for all eggs.

Section 16 [On-farm milk storage] provides that milk must not be stored in a farm bulk tank for more than 72 hours, unless the MDA waives the 72-hour restriction due to hardship, emergency, or natural disaster.

Section 17 [Dairy product labeling] allows dairy products from a state that does not have official plant numbers the option to be labeled with the name and address of the distributor.

Section 18 [Raw milk cheese labeling] requires a label on raw milk cheese that it has been aged at least 60 days.

Section 19 [Emergency food movement restrictions] clarifies that emergency food movement restrictions by the MDA are broader than those based solely on disease.

Section 20 [Advanced biofuel definition] modifies the definition of “advanced biofuel” for the purpose of the bioincentive program.

Section 21 [Biomass definition] defines “biomass” for the purpose of the three bioincentive programs.

Section 22 [Renewable chemical definition] modifies the term “renewable chemical” for the purpose of the renewable chemical bioincentive program.

Sections 23 to 24 [Advanced biofuels] make technical and clarifying changes related to advanced biofuel production incentive payments.

Section 25 [Renewable chemical producer payments; minimum production level] makes technical changes to renewable chemical production incentive eligibility.

Section 26 [Renewable chemical producer payments clarification] adds starch, oil, or animal fat as qualifying for renewable chemical incentive payments.

Section 27 [Cellulosic biomass requirements; renewable chemicals] makes technical and clarifying changes related to renewable chemical production incentive payments.

Sections 28 to 30 [Biomass thermal producer payments clarification] make technical changes to the biomass thermal production incentive eligibility.

Section 31 [Livestock expansion loan program] expands the eligibility for the Rural Finance Authority’s (RFA’s) livestock expansion loan program to include the purchase of a livestock farm.

Section 32 [Beginning farmer loan eligibility] modifies the RFA beginning farmer loan program to allow for a waiver for participation in the financial management program for persons experience in agriculture.

Section 33 [Beginning farmer tax credits eligibility] modifies definitions under the beginning farmer tax credit program to allow a waiver for participation in the financial management participation by the beginning farmer in financial management program within ten years; and for persons with a four-year agricultural degree, experience in agriculture, or be a certified adult farm management instructor.

Sections 34 to 35 [Disaster recovery loan program] expands the RFA’s disaster recovery loan program to include market disaster or emergency; and to allow use of the loans for the replacement of livestock, building improvements, and revenue losses.

Section 36 [Methane digester loan program] allows a borrower to receive more than one loan under the RFA’s methane digester loan program.

Section 37 [Livestock equipment loan program] increases the maximum loan under the RFA’s livestock equipment loan program to $100,000 from $40,000.

Section 38 [Farm opportunity loan program] increases the maximum loan under the RFA’s farm opportunity loan program to $100,000 for an individual from $45,000 and $250,000 for a group of four or more individuals from $180,000.

Section 39 [Repealer] repeals the definitions of “biobased content” and “biobased formulated product” for the purpose of the bioincentive production payment programs.

 
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