Providing for a commercial fertilizer study conducted by the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and providing for conditional implementation

GENERAL. This bill amends Code chapter 466B, which includes a number of subchapters that provide programs to improve surface water quality. The bill creates a new subchapter requiring the department of agriculture and land stewardship (DALS) to develop, implement, and administer a commercial fertilizer study (study) conducted by DALS on cropland for four crop years. PURPOSE OF STUDY. DALS must determine what innovations may be practically incorporated as part of crop production practices that reduce the average statewide per-cropland-acre use of commercial nitrogen-based fertilizers containing at least percent total nitrogen. This includes the use of qualifying crop production products that may be used in conjunction with, or an alternative to, a commercial fertilizer. A product must cost-effectively promote optimum plant growth in a manner that best reduces nonpoint sources of water pollution. CONDUCT OF STUDY AND REPORT. DALS may conduct the study or contract with another party to conduct the study. The study must be conducted with the participation of crop producers from around the state who receive compensation at a rate of at least $5 per acre per crop year. DALS must prepare and submit a preliminary and final report to the governor and general assembly regarding its efforts to develop, implement, and administer the study. The preliminary report is due not later than January 15, 2028, and the final report is due not later than January 15, 2031. _____ legal interest in or managing the cropland, and the location of the cropland. CONDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION. DALS is not required to implement the provisions of the bill unless the general assembly appropriates moneys to DALS for that purpose. REPEAL. The bill’s provisions are repealed July 1, 2031.