Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to analyze and report on trends in agricultural land in Minnesota, with a focus on sales, usage, and legislative recommendations. This will ensure informed decisions about agricultural policies and practices that impact farmers and rural communities.

Main Provisions

• Report on Agricultural Land Trends: The bill allocates funding for the creation of a comprehensive report detailing trends in agricultural land.
• Data Collection: The report will include data on land sales, such as price, buyer types, acreage sold, and financing methods. It will also cover differences in agricultural land use among various regions.
• Legislative Recommendations: The report will provide suggestions on how to ensure agricultural land remains accessible to farmers in the state.
• Privacy Protections: The report will not disclose any personally identifiable information about land transactions.
• Collaboration with Experts: The commissioner of agriculture may work with external experts and coordinate with the Department of Revenue, University of Minnesota Extension, and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to develop the report.
• Deadline for Report Submission: The final report is to be submitted by January 1, 2027, to relevant legislative committees and divisions.

Significant Changes

• Appropriation of Funds: The bill appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of agriculture for this purpose.
• Funds Availability Extension: Any remaining funds not used by the end of fiscal year 2026 are allowed to roll over into fiscal year 2027, rather than being canceled.

Relevant Terms

agricultural land trends, land sales data, regional land use, legislative recommendations, farmer accessibility, privacy of data, fiscal appropriation, external collaboration.