STATE OF MINNESOTA FOURTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETIETH SESSION
AGRICULTURE FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Miller, Chair of the Agriculture Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 10:30AM on March 14th, 2017, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
HAMILTON, Rod, Chair
MILLER, Tim, Vice Chair
ANDERSON, Paul
BAHR, Cal
BLY, David
CLARK, Karen
ECKLUND, Rob
GREEN, Steve
HANSEN, Rick
JOHNSON, Clark
JURGENS, Tony
KIEL, Deb
LIEN, Ben
MAHONEY, Tim
PIERSON, Nels
POPPE, Jeanne
POSTON, John
SCHOMACKER, Joe
URDAHL, Dean
Representative Miller called the meeting to order at 10:30AM. A quorum was present.
Representative Bahr moved to approve the minutes of March 8nd, 2017. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.
Representative Jurgens moved HF2087 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF2087 (Franson) Industrial hemp pilot program funding provided, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF2087 was Josh Helberg, Good Ole Hemp, Andrea Vaubel, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and John Strohfus, Minnesota Hemp Farmers.
HF2087 was laid over for possible inclusion on the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
Representative Hamilton moved HF1748 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF1748 (Hamilton) Ethnic minority chambers of commerce grants provided for farming opportunities, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF1748 was Eric Armacanqui, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs.
HF1748 was laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
Representative Ecklund moved HF2220 be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability.
HF2220 (Thissen) Center for Rural Policy and Development funding provided, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF2220 was Brad Finstad, Executive Director, Center of Rural Policy and Development and Dave Ladd, Secretary, Center for Rural Policy and Development.
Representative Ecklund renewed his motion that HF2220 be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Johnson moved HF1192 be re-referred to the Committee on Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance.
HF1192 (Johnson, C.) Farm safety working group codified, farm safety initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF1192 was Andrea Vaubel, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Michael Schmidt, Associate Dean, University of Minnesota, Thom Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union, and Cole Rupprecht, Associate Director, Minnesota Farm Bureau.
Representative Johnson renewed his motion that HF1192 be re-referred to the Committee on Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Hansen moved HF170 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF170 (Hansen) Neonicotinoid pesticide presence in wild deer study funding provided, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF170 was Jim Leach, Director, Fish and Wildlife Division, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Chris Cowen, Pesticide Action Network.
HF170 was laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:58AM.
Representative Tim Miller, Chair
Rachael Bucholz, Committee Legislative Assistant