Agriculture and Food Amendments

The Agricultural Advisory Board composition was changed to include only one representative for farmers instead of two, and the specific university college name was updated.

The mandatory registration of farm names with the Department of Agriculture and Food was repealed.

The definition of 'brand' was updated to exclude tattoos and the brisket area as acceptable marks for showing livestock ownership.

The definition of 'Brand' was changed to include bracketed text '[ { tattoo or} ]' within the description of identifiable marks, altering the clarity of whether a tattoo is a required component of the definition.

The definition of a livestock 'brand' was changed to explicitly remove tattoos and the brisket area as acceptable methods for marking ownership.

The commissioner gained the authority to remove conservation district board members for cause, whereas previously only the group the member represented could request removal.

The Agricultural Advisory Board was expanded to include 21 members, adding representatives for new industries such as fur breeders, beekeepers, and urban/small farmers.

Applicants for agricultural water optimization grants must now consult with the Division of Water Rights to determine if a change application is required before completing the grant process.

The Agriculture Resource Development Fund's disaster relief loan limit was clarified to cap at 10% of the fund's balance or outstanding loans, with specific exceptions for money appropriated specifically for disaster relief.

Two new expendable special revenue accounts were created: one for the Department of Agriculture and Food Laboratory Equipment Fund and another for the Weights and Measures Fund.

Reporting obligations for the agricultural water optimization program were transferred from the Division of Water Rights to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The definition of a livestock 'brand' was changed to remove tattoos as an identifiable mark and the brisket area as a valid brand location.

The Agricultural Advisory Board composition was updated to include representatives for elk breeders, beekeepers, and fur breeders, and the number of cattlemen representatives was adjusted.

A new expendable special revenue fund was created specifically for the repair, replacement, and upgrade of laboratory equipment.

A new expendable special revenue fund was established for the Weights and Measures program to cover equipment maintenance and purchases.

Rules for the Agriculture Resource Development Fund were clarified to limit disaster relief loans to 10% of the fund balance, with specific exceptions for legislatively appropriated disaster funds.

The obligation to report on the agricultural water optimization program was transferred from the Division of Water Rights to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The requirement for farmers to register their farm names with the commissioner was repealed.

The commissioner was authorized to remove a board member of a conservation district for cause.