House passes Ag bill

The omnibus agriculture and rural development finance bill conference committee approved HF1039/ SF1016* as amended April 11 and the House passed the report 107-20 April 14.

Overall, the bill appropriates $76.8 million from the General Fund.

Among its provisions, it takes $280,000 from the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s $5.6 million biennial budget to increase anhydrous ammonia inspections.

The Senate had proposed a surcharge and re-inspection fee as part of the plan to beef up inspections of the agricultural fertilizer, but the House preferred to support the program with General Fund dollars.

Other provisions in the bill include a one-time increase in funding to hire more retail food handler inspectors. The Agriculture Department estimates it has a 40 percent backlog of inspections.

The House’s appropriation for Ag in the Classroom programs, which neither the Senate nor the governor recommended funding, was spared the knife and would receive a $200,000 biennial appropriation.

Conferees discussed at length a Senate provision that may require a pesticide application permit if a site being sprayed includes public waters, such as lakes or streams. The Pollution Control Agency said the definition was too narrow and wants the statute to include “waters of the state,” which is more broadly defined. Fearing that farmers would be required to obtain a permit to spray low-lying areas in fields that may be temporarily under water, conferees objected and deleted the controversial language.

Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), who sponsors the bill with Sen. Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), said the policy issue will be revisited in the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee, where he serves as chairman.