Lawmakers hear pitch to expand Farm Business Management funding; HF 653 laid over

Representatives and presenters reviewed the Farm Business Management program, which the presenters said operates out of seven colleges within Minnesota State and serves a range of farm students for one-on-one, on-farm financial education.

Keith Olander, who leads the Northern Center of Excellence for Agriculture at Minnesota State, said FBM instructors are delivering specialized, on-farm training and that the program uses the Finbin and Finpack data tools to benchmark farm performance. "Our farmers tell us... they gained either because they're able to reduce input or increase income," Olander said, and cited a commonly reported per‑farm benefit figure derived from participant surveys.

Tina LeBrun, director of the Southern Ag Center of Excellence and former FBM instructor, described instructor responsibilities and workforce pressures: "Retention, faculty retention, replacement, and recruitment" were listed as the program's top workforce issues. Testimony emphasized that FBM instructors act as local, trusted advisors on tax planning, farm transition and cash‑flow management.

Representative Nelson introduced House File 653 to increase state support for the FBM challenge grants by $750,000 each fiscal year (an increase Mr. Savory later described as $1.5 million over the biennium when counting both years). Committee members heard multiple farmer testimonials describing how FBM advice influenced business decisions; the bill was moved and laid over for future budget work.