STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETIETH SESSION
AGRICULTURE FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Hamilton, Chair of the Agriculture Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 10:30AM on March 16th, 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 Hamilton gaveled the meeting at 10:15AM. A quorum was not present.
The committee gave special recognition to Appetite for Change.
A quorum was present at 10:17AM. The meeting was officially called the order at 10:22AM.
Representative Jurgens moved to approve the minutes of March 14nd, 2017. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.
Representative Kiel presented HF2049 for informational purposes only.
HF2049 (Kiel) Farm to school program established, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF2049 was Cathy Rogers, Food Service Director, Pipestone Area Schools, Jane Jewitt, Farmer, Palisade, MN, and Melissa Mattson, Lakes County Service Cooperative and Fresh Connect Food Hub.
Representative Swedzinski presented HF1120 for informational purposes only.
HF1120 (Swedzinski) Shrimp production incentive program established, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF1120 was Michael Ziebell, General Manager, Tru Shrimp.
Representative Clark moved HF2076 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF2076 (Clark) Agriculture related grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF2076 was Dean Dovolis, DJR Architects, Carol Pass, East Phillips Improvement Association, Michael Chaney, Project Sweetie Pie, Tammy Skinaway, and Alyssa banks, Program Manager, Greater Twin Cities United Way.
HF2076 was laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
Representative Hamilton moved HF2327 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF2327 (Johnson, S.) GROW-IT Center renovation funding provided, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF2327 was Ginny Arthur, President, Metropolitan State University, Jaclyne Jandro, Market Garden Program Coordinator, Imogene Silver, Urban Roots Intern, and Tony Lee, Urban Roots Intern.
HF2327 was laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
Representative Poston moved HF2277 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF2277 (Poston) Wolf-livestock conflict prevention pilot program grants established, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF2277 was Thom Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union and Mary Falk, Farmer.
Representative Clark moved HF1461 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
HF1461 (Clark) Urban agriculture development pilot grant program established, and money appropriated.
Testifying on HF1461 was Martin Brown, Minneapolis Homegrown, Waite House Urban Farm, Joanna Hill, Mashkiikii Gitigan, Cherry Flowers and Tim Page, Wholistic Health Farms, Kristel Porter, Executive Director, Cleveland Neighborhood Association, Miah Ulysse, Policy Director, Appetite for Change, Russ Henry, Minneapolis Park Board Candidate.
HF1461 was laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance Omnibus bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30PM.
Representative Rod Hamilton, Chair
Rachael Bucholz, Committee Legislative Assistant