STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SIXTH 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 twenty-sixth meeting to order at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 22, 2006, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Clerk noted the roll.
A quorum was not present.
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
JOHNSON, Ruth URDAHL, Dean
JUHNKE, Al WELTI, Andy
Legislative Auditor’s report on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pesticide regulation and monitoring programs presented by:
Jim Nobles – Office of the Legislative Auditor
Jody Hauer - Office of the Legislative Auditor
A quorum was present at 2:37 pm
Rep. Koenen moved approval of the minutes from Tuesday, March 21, 2006. The motion prevailed.
HF3418 (Hansen) relating to water; requiring reports by drainage authorities to the Board of Water and Soil Resources; creating a work group; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103E.
Rep. Hansen presented HF3418.
Chair Davids moved HF3418 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the committee on Environment Policy. The motion prevailed.
HF3066 (Pelowski) relating to nursery stock; providing for improved consumer education at the point of retail sale; requiring a report to the legislature.
Chair Davids moved HF3066 be recommended to pass be placed on the General Register.
Testifying in support of HF3066:
Bob Marg, farmer, Altura
Testifying against HF3066:
Tim Power, nursery stock grower, MN Nursery & Landscape Association
Chair Davids renewed his motion that HF3066 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register. The motion prevailed.
Legislative Auditor's Report on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pesticide regulation and monitoring programs presented by:
Jim Nobles, Office of the Legislative Auditor
Jody Hauer, Office of the Legislative Auditor
Perry Aasness, Deputy Commissioner, MN Department of Agriculture
Dan Stoddard, MN Department of Agriculture
HF3159 (Ellison) relating to agriculture; requiring notice of certain pesticide applications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 18B.07, by adding a subdivision.
Chair Davids moved HF3159 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register.
Chair Davids moved to amend HF3159 (H3159DE1, attached). The motion prevailed, the amendment was adopted.
Rep. Ellison presented HF3159, as amended.
Testifying in support of HF3159:
Paula Maccabee, Environmental Justice Advocates of MN
Chela Vasquez, Centro Campesino, Owatonna
Samuel Yamin, MN Center for Environmental Advocacy
Answering questions on HF3159:
Paul Liemandt, Department of Agriculture
Chair Davids laid over HF3159 until Tuesday, March 28, 2006.
HF1466 (Koenen) relating to commerce; prohibiting tampering with clock-hour meters on farm tractors; prescribing a civil penalty and a private right of action; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325E.
Rep. Koenen moved HF1466 moved HF1466 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Election.
Rep. Koenen explained HF1466.
Rep. Koenen renewed his motion that HF1466 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Elections. The motion prevailed.
HF3366 (Welti) relating to agriculture; providing for a study and report on public and private funding of a milk volume production loan program.
Rep. Welti moved HF3366 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register.
Rep. Welti moved to amend HF3366 (H3366A1, attached). The motion prevailed, the amendment was adopted.
Rep. Welti presented HF3366.
Testifying on HF3366:
Tom Anderson, Farm Business Manager, Riverland Community College
Mark Fjelstad, Dairy Farmer, Zumbro Falls, MN
Ed Jostock, Dairy Farmer, Zumbro Falls, MN
Rep. Welti moved HF3366 be recommended to pass, as amended and be placed on the General Register. The motion prevailed.
HF3442 (Juhnke) relating to agriculture; repealing regulation of beekeeping; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 19.50; 19.51; 19.52; 19.53; 19.55; 19.56; 19.561; 19.57; 19.58; 19.59; 19.61; 19.63; 19.65; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 19.64, etc.
Rep. Juhnke moved HF3442 be recommended to pass.
Rep. Juhnke presented HF3442.
Testifying on HF3442:
Fred Holte, MN Honey Producers Association
Rep. Juhnke moved to amend HF3442 as follows:
After Page 1, line 16, insert:
“Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
Sections 1 and 2 are effective immediately following final enactment.”
The motion prevailed, the amendment was adopted.
Rep. Juhnke moved HF3442 be recommended to pass, as amended and be placed on the General Register. The motion prevailed.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:46 p.m.
Rep. Greg Davids, Chair
Cris Wohlford
Committee Legislative Assistant