Subdivision 1. Purpose. The purpose of the agroforestry loan program is to provide low-interest financing to farmers during the growing period required to convert agricultural land to agroforestry.

Subd. 2. Establishment. The authority shall establish and implement an agroforestry loan program to help finance the production of short rotation woody crops. The authority may contract with a fiscal agent to provide an efficient delivery system for this program.

Subd. 3. Rules. The authority may adopt rules necessary for administration of the program established under subdivision 2.

Subd. 4. Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

(b) "Fiscal agent" means any lending institution or other organization of a for-profit or nonprofit nature that is in good standing with the state of Minnesota that has the appropriate business structure and trained personnel suitable to providing efficient disbursement of loan funds and the servicing and collection of loans over an extended period of time.

(c) "Growing cycle" means the number of years from planting to harvest.

(d) "Harvest" means the day that the crop arrives at the scale of the buyer of the crop.

(e) "Short rotation woody crops" or "crop" means hybrid poplar and other woody plants that are harvested for their fiber within 15 years of planting.

Subd. 5. Eligibility. To be eligible for this program a borrower must:

(1) be a resident of Minnesota or any entity eligible to own farm land under section 500.24;

(2) be or plan to become a grower of short rotation woody crops on agricultural land that is suitable for the profitable production of short rotation woody crops;

(3) be a member of a producer-owned cooperative that will contract to market the short rotation woody crop to be planted by the borrower;

(4) demonstrate an ability to repay the loan;

(5) not receive assistance under this program for more than $150,000 in the producer's lifetime;

(6) agree to work with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies, and the marketing cooperative, to develop an acceptable establishment and maintenance plan;

(7) agree not to plant short-rotation woody crops within one-quarter of a mile of state or federally protected prairie; and

(8) meet any other requirements the authority may impose by administrative procedure or by rule.

Subd. 6. Loans. (a) The authority may disburse loans through a fiscal agent to farmers and agricultural landowners who are eligible under subdivision 5. The total accumulative loan principal must not exceed $75,000 per loan.

(b) The fiscal agent may impose a loan origination fee in the amount of one percent of the total approved loan. This fee is to be paid by the borrower to the fiscal agent at the time of loan closing.

(c) The loan may be disbursed over a period not to exceed 12 years.

(d) A borrower may receive loans, depending on the availability of funds, for planted areas up to 160 acres for up to:

(1) the total amount necessary for establishment of the crop;

(2) the total amount of maintenance costs, including weed control, during the first three years; and

(3) 70 percent of the estimated value of one year's growth of the crop for years four through 12.

(e) Security for the loan must be the crop, a personal note executed by the borrower, an interest in the land upon which the crop is growing, and whatever other security is required by the fiscal agent or the authority. All recording fees must be paid by the borrower.

(f) The authority may prescribe forms and establish an application process for applicants to apply for a loan.

(g) The authority may impose a reasonable, nonrefundable application fee for each application for a loan under this program. The application fee is initially $50. Application fees received by the authority must be deposited in the Rural Finance Authority administrative account established in section 41B.03.

(h) Loans under the program must be made using money in the revolving loan account established under section 41B.06.

(i) All repayments of financial assistance granted under this section, including principal and interest, must be deposited into the revolving loan account established under section 41B.06.

(j) The interest payable on loans made by the authority for the agroforestry loan program must, if funded by revenue bond proceeds, be at a rate not less than the rate on the revenue bonds, and may be established at a higher rate necessary to pay costs associated with the issuance of the revenue bonds and a proportionate share of the cost of administering the program. The interest payable on loans for the agroforestry loan program funded from sources other than revenue bond proceeds must be at a rate determined by the authority.

(k) Loan principal balance outstanding plus all assessed interest must be repaid within 120 days of harvest, but no later than 15 years from planting.

Subd. 7. [Repealed, 2012 c 244 art 1 s 83]

Subd. 8. Revenue bonds. The authority may issue revenue bonds to finance the agroforestry loan program in accordance with sections 41B.08 to 41B.15, 41B.17, and 41B.18. Bonds may be refunded by the issuance of refunding bonds in the manner authorized by chapter 475.

History: 2000 c 488 art 3 s 19; 2012 c 244 art 1 s 46; 1Sp2015 c 4 art 2 s 72