AgBMP Loan Program Expansion Proposed to

Include Private Wells

            ST. PAUL, Minn. –  A new proposal to expand the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s AgBMP Loan Program would help rural landowners repair, replace or treat private wells that do not meet drinking water standards.

Under the current AgBMP Loan Program, low interest loans are available to landowners to implement best management practices that prevent, reduce, or eliminate water pollution problems. The proposed amendment would broaden the program eligibility requirements to include improvements to private wells. This would include treatment, repair or replacement of an existing well and other effective best management practices.

“Low interest loans have not been widely available to help assist landowners treat, repair or replace wells that do not comply with drinking water standards,” said Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “Expanding the program to include private wells will allow us to respond to many more loan requests.”

Eligible loan recipients are farmers, farm supply businesses and rural landowners. More information about the AgBMP program is available online at www.mda.state.mn.us/agbmp.

The proposed loan program expansion is part of a Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith proposed $220 million plan to modernize Minnesota’s aging water infrastructure and protect groundwater from contamination, assisting communities across the state with critical investments in aging water infrastructure, and investing in water quality protection initiatives to restore and protect water quality across the state.