HF3580

Purpose

Provide one-time funding in 2026 to compensate farmers for livestock losses from wolves and to compensate or assist with elk-related crop and fence damage, along with related administrative and prevention activities.

Main provisions

• Wolves depredation compensation

  • Allocate $125,000 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Agriculture for compensation to producers for livestock destroyed or crippled by wolves under Minnesota Statutes §3.737.
  • Allow up to $5,000 to reimburse extension educators for determining fair market value of destroyed or crippled livestock.
  • If federal funding becomes available to pay wolf-related claims, enable an equivalent amount of the appropriation to reimburse nonlethal prevention methods conducted by federal wildlife services staff.
  • If claims under §3.737 or §3.7371 are unusually high, permit transferring funds between these two programs.
  • This is a one-time appropriation, usable through June 30, 2027.

• Elk depredation (crop and fence damage) compensation

  • Allocate $125,000 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Agriculture for compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk under Minnesota Statutes §3.7371.
  • Allow up to $10,000 to reimburse expenses for investigation and resolution of claims and for training of approved agents.
  • Allow up to $40,000 in grants to producers for measures to protect stored crops from elk damage.
  • If claims under §3.737 or §3.7371 are unusually high, allow transferring funds between the elk and wolf programs.
  • This is a one-time appropriation, usable through June 30, 2027.

Significant changes / implications

• Establishes or underscores a dedicated, one-time funding pool for depredation-related compensation for wolves and elk.
• Expands support activities beyond payouts to include: reimbursing extension educators for fair market valuations, reimbursing nonlethal prevention efforts led by federal wildlife services, reimbursing investigation/training costs for elk claims, and providing grants to help producers protect stored crops.
• Introduces flexibility to transfer funds between the wolf and elk depredation programs if claims are unusually high.
• Ties to existing statutes (3.737 and 3.7371) and sets a utilization window through mid-2027.

Relevant Terms wolves elk depredation compensation livestock crop damage fence damage general fund Department of Agriculture Minnesota Statutes §3.737 Minnesota Statutes §3.7371 extension educators fair market value nonlethal prevention methods federal wildlife services claims approved agents investigations training grants stored crops onetime appropriation available until June 30, 2027