SF3949

Purpose

Provide a one-time, general-fund appropriation to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to compensate farmers for losses from depredation by wolves and elk, and to fund related activities that help prevent or resolve such losses. The funds support payments to producers for livestock destroyed or crippled by wolves, as well as crop/fence damage caused by elk, plus associated investigations, training, and prevention measures. The appropriation is time-limited (available until June 30, 2027) and may be reallocated between the two programs if claims are unusually high.

Main Provisions

• Wolf-related depredation compensation

  • Amount: $125,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Agriculture for compensation for livestock destroyed or crippled by a wolf under Minnesota Statutes section 3.737.
  • Administrative costs: Up to $5,000 may reimburse expenses for university extension educators to provide fair market values of destroyed or crippled livestock.
  • Federal coordination: If federal funding is received to pay wolf claims, an equivalent amount of this appropriation may reimburse nonlethal prevention methods carried out by federal wildlife services staff.
  • Transfer authority: If claims under 3.737 or 3.7371 are unusually high, appropriations may be transferred between the wolf and elk programs.
  • Time limit: This is a one-time appropriation, available until June 30, 2027.

• Elk-related depredation and prevention

  • Amount: $125,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Agriculture for compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk under Minnesota Statutes section 3.7371.
  • Investigations/training: Up to $10,000 may reimburse expenses for the Commissioner or approved agents to investigate and resolve claims, and for training of approved agents.
  • Prevention grants: Up to $40,000 may be used to make grants to producers for measures to protect stored crops from elk damage.
  • Transfer authority: If claims under 3.737 or 3.7371 are unusually high, appropriations may be transferred between the wolf and elk programs.
  • Time limit: This is a one-time appropriation, available until June 30, 2027.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates temporary, one-time funding specifically earmarked for depredation compensation for wolves (3.737) and elk (3.7371), rather than permanently changing eligibility or funding levels.
• Establishes explicit authorizations for reimbursement of certain administrative costs (e.g., extension educator fair market value determinations and investigator/training costs) and for grants to protect stored crops from elk damage.
• Allows automatic reallocation of funds between the wolf and elk depredation programs if claims are unusually high, providing flexibility beyond the base appropriations.
• Ties elk-related nonlethal prevention reimbursement to potential federal funding for wolf/elk claims, enabling coordination with federal wildfire services programs.

Administration and Oversight

• Administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
• Funds are from the general fund.
• Provisions reference Minnesota Statutes sections 3.737 (wolf depredation compensation) and 3.7371 (elk depredation compensation) as the statutory basis for the programs.

Timing and Availability

• Both wolf and elk appropriation blocks are onetime and available until June 30, 2027.
• The appropriation is described as available for compensation and related activities through that date, with potential transfers if claims are unusually high.

Relevant terms depredation compensation, wolves, elk, livestock destroyed, livestock crippled, crop damage, fence damage, Minnesota Statutes 3.737, Minnesota Statutes 3.7371, general fund, commissioner of agriculture, university extension educators, fair market values, nonlethal prevention methods, federal wildlife services, investigations, approved agents, training, grants, stored crops, claims, onetime appropriation, June 30, 2027