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Dayton looks to help cash-strapped farmers comply with Buffer Rule

The Governor of Minnesota is looking for ways to assist financially-strapped farmers attempting to comply with the state’s Buffer Rule.

Mark Dayton’s Tax Bill includes nearly $7 million dollars in financial assistance for farmers installing water quality buffers, as well as $10 million dollars of ongoing aid to support local government administration and enforcement of buffer requirements.

He also recently signed an agreement with the USDA to invest $500 million dollars in a partnership with Minnesota farmers through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

“Thirty percent of that would be focused on providing financial aid to farmers trying to make the transition to buffers and are hard-pressed financially.  This is coming at the worst possible time, given how awful the farm economy is.  And I don’t want to put an undue burden on farmers who (in many cases) want to do the right thing and simply can’t afford it.”

The Governor tells Brownfield his Jobs Bill would provide $30 million dollars in the Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve Program–which compensates private landowners for granting permanent conservation easements and establishing wetlands or riparian areas on their lands.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources estimates 110,000 acres of land has been designated for buffer strips statewide.

 

 

 

 

 

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