Millions for ag-related water issues

Money could be expended from the Clean Water Fund to help the Agriculture Department address water protection issues as they relate to agricultural practices.

Approved April 21 by the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division, HF2301 would provide more than $8.8 million in the 2010-2011 biennium to the department for these efforts.

Sponsored by Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar), the division chairman, the bill now moves to the House Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division for possible incorporation into its omnibus bill. There is no Senate companion.

The bill would provide over the biennium:

• $4.9 million for an agricultural best management practice loan program;

• $2.6 million for research, pilot projects and staffing related to ways agricultural practices can contribute to restoring impaired waters; and

• $675,000 for pesticide water degradation monitoring.

The bill would fund three new positions to provide technical assistance related to ways agriculture practices can contribute to restoring impaired water. Rep. Andrew Falk (DFL-Murdock) tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to limit administrative and staff expenditures in that provision to no more than 15 percent of the allocation.

Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long Prairie) questioned how the department could add positions when a hiring freeze is in place. Joe Martin, the department’s assistant commissioner, said that a case could be made to deem these positions as critical.