FIFTEENTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-SECOND SESSION
AGRICULTURE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Mike Sundin, Chair of the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee, called the virtual meeting to order at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting was broadcast via Zoom and House Public Information Services.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll. A quorum was present.

Members present:
SUNDIN, Mike, CHAIR
VANG, Samantha, VICE CHAIR
ANDERSON, Paul, Minority Lead
BURKEL, John
ECKLUND, Rob
HANSEN, Rick
HANSON, Jessica
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIPPERT, Todd
LUECK, Dale
MILLER, Tim
NELSON, Nathan
THOMPSON, John

Rep. Vang moved to approve adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion prevailed. The minutes from the March 1, 2021 meeting were adopted.

Presentation by University of Minnesota on Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Tech Transfer program (AGREETT)
• Dean Brian Buhr, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES)
• Heidi Roop, Assistant Professor and Extension Climate Scientist, Soil, Water and Climate
• Jake Jungers, Assistant Professor, Agronomy and Plant Genetics
• Annie Klodd, Extension Educator, Fruit and Vegetable Production
• Noelle Noyes, Assistant Professor and Extension faculty, Veterinary Population Medicine

HF 661 (Klevorn) University of Minnesota Forever Green Agriculture Initiative funding

Rep. Klevorn moved that HF 661 be recommended to be referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance & Policy committee.

Rep. Klevorn presented HF 661.

Testifying:
Dr. Don Wyse, U of M, Forever Green Initiative
Anne Schwagerl, Prairie Point Farm
Dr. Nicole Atchison, CEO, Puris Holdings

Rep. Klevorn renewed her motion that HF 661 be recommended to be referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

AYES:
SUNDIN
VANG
ECKLUND
HANSEN, R.
HANSON, J.
KLEVORN
LIPPERT
MILLER
THOMPSON

PASS/ABSTAIN:
ANDERSON
BURKEL
LUECK
NELSON

There being 9 ayes, 0 nays, and 4 abstentions, the motion prevailed. HF 661 was recommended to be referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

HF 1680 (Marquart) Northern Crops Institute grant funding provided

Rep. Vang moved that HF 1680 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

Rep. Marquart presented HF 1680.

Testifying:
Mark Jirik, Director
Joe Smentek, Executive Director, Mn Soybean Growers Association
Bruce Kleven, Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and the Minnesota Barley Growers Association

Rep. Vang renewed her motion that HF 1680 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill. HF 1680 was laid over.

HF 1805 (Ecklund) Appropriating money for grants to the Minnesota Turf Seed Council

Rep. Ecklund moved that HF 1805 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

Rep. Ecklund moved the A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.

Rep. Ecklund presented HF 1805, as amended.

Testifying:
Richard Magnusson, President, MN Turf Seed Council

Rep. Ecklund renewed his motion that HF 1805, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill. HF 1805, as amended, was laid over.

Chair Sundin adjourned the meeting at 2:20 P.M.





_______________________________
Representative Mike Sundin, Chair





_______________________________
Kyle Smith, Committee Legislative Assistant