Funding the Farm to School and Early Care Program and Additional Agricultural Education Programs

S.F. 1955 / H.F. 2278 appropriates funding to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The bill specifies that $2.3 million over two years be used to promote farm to school and early childhood education efforts, including by reimbursing schools and early childhood centers for purchasing agricultural products and equipment and employing a statewide farm to institution coordinator. The bill also appropriates $4 million over two years for urban youth agricultural education and urban agriculture community development and $700,000 over two years for the Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council to develop grant programs.