ST.PAUL – Rep. Andrew Falk (DFL – Murdock), a 5th generation farmer, is happy to see funding to address a critical issue for agriculture producers. The Supplemental Budget Conference Committee Report, expected to be taken up on the House floor within the hour, contains $200,000 in 2015 for a grant as determined by the commissioner to a public higher education institution to research porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.
“This is a critical issue in agriculture,” said Falk. “As a farmer, I know what kind of impact this can have on your livestock. That’s why I pushed to include this funding in our supplemental budget. I’m glad we’re making the PED virus a priority in Minnesota.”
The funding is supported by the Minnesota Farmers Union, the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. The conference committee report is expected to be taken up by the Senate upon passage in the House later tonight.