Nearly a month ago, Minnesota legislative leaders announced budget targets. For 2024-2025, agriculture was allocated $48 million. Governor Tim Walz sought $71 million for ’26 and ’27, but the Legislature’s ag budget target is $40 million. Cory Bennett, who leads Bennett Government Consulting, says the difference is with the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation or AGRI program. “AGRI is about $35 million so that was the difference that we saw in ’26 and ’27.” AGRI funding supports infrastructure grants for renewable energy, livestock investment grants, county fairs, crop research and more. AGRI is scheduled to sunset in 2026. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says the budget for the out years creates a big hole. “We also have to look at how we plan our contracts,” said Petersen. “A lot of grants that we do at the department are three-year contracts so we might have to reduce some of those contracts.” Petersen emphasizes agriculture makes up one-third of one percent of the Minnesota budget. At the same time, agriculture is responsible for 25-to-30 percent of the state’s GDP.
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