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Drought relief package approved by Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee

The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee has approved a relief package for livestock and specialty crop producers harmed by last year’s drought.

House Ag Committee chair Mike Sundin introduced the legislation that provides $5.1 million for grant assistance to farmers and another $5 million to the Rural Finance Authority for disaster loans.

“As introduced, it reflects the Governor’s recommended package for ag. But we had a good discussion in the Ag Committee and amended it to provide some additional guidance on how the funding is used.”

The Democrat from Esko says as farmers are tackling high costs and other economic uncertainty, the Legislature is now one step closer to delivering this important relief.

No Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee voted for the bill and its fate in the Senate remains unknown.