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Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division

TWENTY-FIRST MEETING

2019-2020 Regular Session - Thursday, March 21, 2019

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FIRST MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION

AGRICULTURE & FOOD FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION

MINUTES

Representative Jeanne Poppe, Chair of the Division, called the meeting to order at 9:45 AM on March 21st, 2019, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

POPPE, Jeanne, CHAIR
BRAND, Jeff, VICE CHAIR
HAMILTON, Rod, Republican LEAD
ANDERSON, Paul
ECKLUND, Rob
HANSEN, Rick
KIEL, Debra
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIPPERT, Todd
LUECK, Dale
MILLER, Tim
TABKE, Brad
VANG, Samantha
WAZLAWIK, Ami

Members excused:
POSTON, John

A quorum was present.

Representative Brand moved that the minutes of March 19, 2019, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Presentation on H.F. 2200 (Poppe) which outlines the Governor’s budget recommendations:
• Andrea Vaubel, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Representative Anderson moved that H.F. 2021 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Testimony provided by:
• Josie Lonetti, Associate Director of Public Affairs, Minnesota Farm Bureau
• Patrick Murray, Senior Government Affairs Director, Cooperative Network
• Gary Wertish, President, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Laura Lemke, Assistant Director, Minnesota Grain and Feed Association

Representative Anderson renewed his motion to lay H.F. 2021 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Anderson moved that H.F. 915 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Anderson moved the H0915DE1 amendment to H.F. 915 for adoption. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testimony provided by:
• Nick Milanowski, Fruit, Vegetable, and Grain Section Manager, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Josie Lonetti, Associate Director of Public Affairs, Minnesota Farm Bureau
• Gary Wertish, President, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Patrick Murray, Senior Government Affairs Director, Cooperative Network
• Bob Zelenka, Executive Director, Minnesota Feed and Grain Association

Representative Anderson renewed his motion to lay H.F. 915 as amended over for possible inclusion in the omnibus agriculture bill.

Representative Kiel moved H.F. 2123 for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Vice Chair Brand assumed the Chair at 10:37 AM.

Testimony provided by:
• Dennis Eagan, President and CEO, Epitome Energy
• Mike Skawg, Soybean Grower, Cook County
• Craig Hoiseth, Economic Development Authority, City of Crookston
• Cory Bennett, Lobbyist, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association

Representative Kiel renewed her motion to lay H.F. 2123 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Hamilton moved H.F. 2527 to be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Testimony provided by:
• Representative Fabian
• Richard Magnusson, President, Minnesota Turf Seed Council
• Andrea Vaubel, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Representative Brand restated the motion to lay H.F. 2527 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Hansen moved that H.F. 1796 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Testimony provided by:
• Gregg Mast, Executive Director, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota
• Will Georgia, COO, Novel Energy Solutions
• Jim Pierson, State Government Affairs Manager, Xcel Energy
• Stu Lourey, Government Relations Director, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Ross Abbey, Senior Development Specialst, US Solar
• David Schwietz, Landowner, Chisago County
• Colleen Hollinger, Public Relations and Business Development, Prairie Restorations

Representative Poppe reassumed the Chair at 11:22 AM.

Representative Poppe restated the motion to lay H.F. 1796 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Lippert moved that H.F. 1616 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Testimony provided by:
• Sam Ziegler, Director, GreenSeam

Representative Poppe restated the motion that H.F. 1616 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Tabke moved H.F. 2293 to be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

Representative Tabke described H.F. 2293.

Representative Tabke renewed his motion to lay H.F. 2293 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture bill.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:41 AM.




__________________________________________
Representative Jeanne Poppe, Chair


__________________________________________
Carl Kaase, Committee Legislative Assistant




More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1796 (Hansen) - Community solar gardens contiguous county requirements modified, economic benefits to farmers study funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF915 (Anderson) - Licensed grain buyers annual inventory examination required.
  • HF2021 (Anderson) - Grain credit contract indemnity program established, transfer authorized, and money appropriated.
  • HF2123 (Kiel) - Agricultural production incentive program funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2293 (Tabke) - Noncommercial pesticide applicator license fees modified.
  • HF1616 (Lippert) - Agriculture related business assistance funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2200 (Poppe) - Omnibus agriculture and food finance bill.
  • HF2527 (Fabian) - Minnesota Turf Seed Council grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
Documents:

The meeting is anticipated to last until 11:45 AM.

**Bill added: HF 2200 (Poppe) Governor's budget recommendation (informational)
HF 915 (Anderson) Grain buyers exam/inventory
HF 2021 (Anderson) Grain credit contract indemnity program established
HF 1796 (Hansen) Community solar gardens contiguous county requirements modified, economic benefits to farmers study funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF 2123 (Kiel) Innovative agriculture incentives
HF 1616 (Lippert) Agriculture related business assistance funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF 2293 (Tabke) Noncommercial applicator license fees
** Bill added: HF 2527 (Fabian) Turf seed council grant funding


Please contact nancy.conley@house.mn to sign up to testify. Due to the full agenda, testimony will be limited to 2 minutes or less.

NOTE: HF 2237 (Fischer) and HF1351 (Poppe) were scheduled on Tuesday, March 19.