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Minnesota House and Senate far apart on ag budget funding

The Minnesota House and Senate are far apart on agriculture budget funding.

Senate Ag, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development chair Aric Putnam says his committee has been very diligent and thoughtful about spending.

“Unfortunately the House went a little crazy on us about two weeks ago and passed a budget with funny money, which makes it look like what we’re doing is a little bit more I guess sort of conservative and slow.”

The House Agriculture and Policy Committee budget bill appropriates nearly $169 million from the General Fund for the Department of Agriculture, a 10 percent increase from the current amount budgeted and above the $151 million proposed by Governor Walz.

Putnam tells Brownfield his committee is focused on livestock disease emergency preparedness and providing farmers with reliable support.

“But we’re going to take it seriously and I don’t know what’s going to come from the House, but we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.”

He says final bills will be heard Friday, and budget hearings will be held next week.