Purpose

Provide funding from the state to support counties in hiring and using county agricultural inspectors. The bill allocates money to improve inspection and enforcement related to agriculture, including weed inspection and related control programs.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation: $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Agriculture for grants to counties to support county agricultural inspectors.
• Administration: The Commissioner may use up to 3% of the appropriation each year for administrative costs.
• Eligibility for grants: A county must employ a county agricultural inspector or a county-designated employee who:
  • Has attended training for new county agricultural inspectors offered by the Commissioner.
  • Coordinates with the Commissioner to review applicable laws and enforcement procedures.
  • Compiles and submits the local weed inspector annual report data to the Commissioner.
  • Conducts an annual meeting and training for local weed inspectors.
  • Assists the Commissioner with control programs and other agricultural programs when requested under Minnesota Statutes section 18.81 subdivision 1b, as directed by the county board.
• Application and funding distribution: Counties must annually submit an application approved by the Commissioner to be eligible for funding. The Commissioner must equally divide the available grant money among eligible counties.

Administration & Funding Details

• Funding from the General Fund to support county-level agricultural inspection programs.
• Administrative cap allows up to 3% of the appropriation to cover state administration and related costs.

Eligibility & Reporting Requirements

• Counties must have trained inspectors or county-designated staff.
• Counties must participate in state coordination, reporting, training, and weed inspector activities.
• Counties must provide annual data and participate in statewide control efforts as directed by state law and the Commissioner.

Distribution & Allocation

• Funding is distributed equally among eligible counties, pending annual applications approved by the Commissioner.
• The equal division aims to standardize support across counties that meet the criteria.

Significance / What Changes This Creates

• Establishes a two-year funding program (FY2026–FY2027) to bolster county agricultural inspection work.
• Creates explicit training, reporting, and coordination requirements for counties receiving funds.
• Introduces an eligibility-based, evenly distributed grant approach to support county inspectors and related weed control activities.
• Adds administrative funding to cover state-level oversight and program implementation.

Relevant Terms general fund, appropriation, grants, commissioner of agriculture, county agricultural inspector, county-designated employee, training for new county agricultural inspectors, enforcement procedures, laws, local weed inspector annual report data, annual meeting, local weed inspectors, control programs, Minnesota Statutes section 18.81 subdivision 1b, county board, eligible counties, equally divide, application, administration.