STATE OF MINNESOTA SECOND MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FOURTH SESSION
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Greg Davids, Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, called the first meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2005, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Clerk noted the roll.
Members present:
DAVIDS, Greg, Chair KOENEN, Lyle
BLAINE, Greg, Vice Chair MAGNUS, Doug
FINSTAD, Brad MOE, Frank
HAMILTON, Rod OTREMBA, Mary Ellen
HEIDGERKEN, Bud PENAS, Maxine
URDAHL, Dean
JUHNKE, Al WELTI, Andy
Members excused:
Members absent: JOHNSON, Ruth
Chair Davids welcomed the audience and provided a brief overview of the agenda for the next couple weeks.
A quorum was present at 2:33 p.m.
Rep. Magnus moved approval of the minutes: Tuesday, January 11, 2005. The motion prevailed.
Overview of Minnesota’s Dairy Industry was provided by:
Bob Lefebvre, Executive Director, MN Milk Producers Association
David Scheevel, Preston, MN, Milk Producer
Kathy Skiba, North Branch, MN, Milk Producer
Connie Meyer, Rollingstone, MN, Milk Producer
Rep. Blaine assumed the role as chair.
Kurt Markham, Director AMS, Department of Agriculture
David Weinand, Grants Administrator, Department of Agriculture
Chair Blaine requested the “Beginning Dairy Producer Payment Report” that was due on January 15, 2005 from the Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Weinand indicated the report was currently being printed and should be available to the Committee within a couple days.
Continued testimony:
Paul Kent, MN Association of Cooperatives
Charles Muscoplat, Vice President of Agriculture Policy, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Food, Environmental Sciences and Director of the MN Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Minnesota
“Minnesota Dairy Industry Overview” powerpoint presentation was provided by:
Professor Brian Buhr, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota
Available for questions:
Professor Jim Linn, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota
The meeting was adjourned at 4:17 p.m.
Rep. Greg Davids, CHAIR
Denise Berger
Committee Legislative Assistant