Biofertilizer water preservation program establishment and appropriation

SF 1575 establishes Minnesota's Biofertilizer Water Preservation Program to improve water quality by incentivizing farmers to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use. The program provides qualifying farmers with annual payments of at least $5 per acre for verified reductions of 15% or 30 pounds of commercial nitrogen fertilizer per acre (whichever is less) when using approved biofertilizers like soil amendments or nitrogen-fixing products. The commissioner of agriculture must develop the program, determine qualifying products, and administer the $5 million in fiscal year 2026 funding appropriated for this purpose. Farmers must submit crop nutrient management plans showing reduced fertilizer use to participate, with the program requiring biennial reviews to adjust reduction targets and expand eligible products.