STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-EIGHTH SESSION
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE FINANCE
Chair, Representative Jean Wagenius
MINUTES
Representative Wagenius, Chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Finance, called the meeting to order at 8:21 a.m., Thursday, March 6th, 2014 in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Wagenius, Chair
McNamara, Lead
Anderson, P.
Benson, J.
Bly
Dill
Erickson, R.
Fabian
Freiberg
Hackbarth
Hansen
Kahn
Kiel
Poppe
Torkelson
Ward, JoAnn
Members excused:
Falk, Vice Chair
Clark
Hamilton
Other Members attending:
Davnie
A quorum was present
Testifying on bee kills and pollinator decline:
Katherine Sill, Bee Keeper from Lowry Hill
Kristy Lynn Allen, The Beez Kneez Delivery
Erin Rupp, The Beez Kneez Delivery
Manley H Bigalk, Golden Ridge Honey Farm, IA
Dr. Eric Runquist, Butterfly Conservation Biologist - Minnesota Zoo (Status of Minnesota’s Butterflies and Moths)
State Agencies testifying on pollinators:
Bob Welsh, Wildlife Program Habitat Manager - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR Pollinator Habitat Legislation)
Dan Shaw, Native Vegetation Specialist - Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR Pollinator Protection Efforts)
Matt Wohlman, Assistant Commissioner - Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Santo Cruz, Government Relations Director - Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Public Testimony:
Lex Horan, Pesticide Action Network of North America
Judy Chucker, Saint Louis Park
Julia Vanatta, Pollinator Revival
Victoria Ranua, Beekeeper, Shakopee, MN
The meeting was adjourned at 10:03 a.m.
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Representative Jean Wagenius, Chair
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Nanette Moloney, Committee Legislative Assistant