Purpose

Provide state money to compensate livestock owners and others for depredation caused by wolves and elk. The bill creates and details a funding plan for 2026 and 2027 to pay for losses to livestock, as well as crop or fence damage caused by elk, under the state’s depredation statutes.

Main Provisions

• Funding for 2026 and 2027:
  • The General Fund will pay the Commissioner of Agriculture for compensation payments to livestock owners for animals destroyed or crippled by wolves (under Minnesota Statutes section 3.737) in both years.
  • The General Fund will also pay for compensation payments for crop damage or fence damage caused by elk (under Minnesota Statutes section 3.7371) in both years.
• Cash flow and carryover:
  • If the amount budgeted for the first year is not enough, the money budgeted for the second year can be used in the first year.
  • If claims in either program are unusually high, the Commissioner may use money from either program to cover the purposes described in this section.
• Administration and valuation:
  • The bill allows up to $5,000 each year of this funding to reimburse university extension agents for expenses to determine and provide fair market values of destroyed or crippled livestock.
  • The fair market value determinations support how much compensation owners receive.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates new, two-year general fund appropriations (for 2026 and 2027) specifically for depredation-related compensation payments under sections 3.737 and 3.7371.
• Establishes a carryover/transfer mechanism between years and between depredation programs if claims are unusually high.
• Officially authorizes reimbursement of extension agent expenses up to $5,000 per year to perform fair market value assessments.

How it Works in Practice

• When wolves or elk cause damage, affected producers can receive compensation payments funded by these appropriations.
• If the damage claims are higher than anticipated, the state can shift funds within these programs to ensure payments are made.
• Extension agents can be reimbursed for valuing the losses, helping determine fair payment amounts.

Relevant Terms - depredation payments - wolves - elk - compensation payments - Minnesota Statutes section 3.737 - Minnesota Statutes section 3.7371 - fair market value - university extension agents - crop damage - fence damage - general fund - commissioner of agriculture - unusually high claims - carryover - fiscal year 2026 - fiscal year 2027