Agriculture Finance and Policy

THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-SIXTH 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 1:02 P.M. on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 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
MILLER, Tim
NELSON, Nathan
THOMPSON, John

Excused:
LUECK, Dale

Rep. Miller moved to approve adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion prevailed. The minutes from the March 7, 2022 meeting were adopted.

HF3999 (Lippert) Regional and local food system report funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.

Rep. Lippert moved that HF 3999 be laid over for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

Testifying:
Lori D. Cox, Owner/Operator, Roots Return Heritage Farm, LLC
Julia Wickham, Legislative Coordinator, Minnesota Farmers Union
Fallon Ryan, SPARK MN

Rep. Lippert renewed his motion, and Chair Sundin laid over HF 3999 for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

HF3212 (Kiel) Ag Innovation Campus funding provided, and money appropriated.

Rep. Anderson moved that HF 3212 be laid over for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

Rep. Kiel introduced the bill and responded to member questions.

Testifying:
Tom Slunecka, CEO, Ag Management Solutions

Chair Sundin laid over HF 3212 for possible inclusion the supplemental finance bill.

HF3878 (N. Nelson) Modifying membership of the Food Safety and Defense Task Force

Rep. Nelson moved that HF 3878 be laid over for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

Testifying:
Tamara Nelsen, Executive Director, MN AgriGrowth Council
Thom Petersen, Commissioner, MDA
Katherine Simon, MDA

Rep. Nelson renewed his motion, and Chair Sundin laid over HF 3878 for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

HF3751 (Hansen, R.) Pesticide and fertilizer coatings prohibited that are not readily biodegradable.

Rep. Hansen, R. moved that HF 3751 be laid over for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

Rep. Hansen, R. moved the H3751DE3 amendment. The motion prevailed. The DE3 amendment was adopted.

Testifying:
Sarah Erickson, Scott’s Miracle Grow

Chair Sundin laid over HF 3751, as amended, for possible inclusion in the supplemental finance bill.

MDA and BAH provided an update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Testifying:
Dr. Beth Thompson, Executive Director, Board of Animal Health
Thom Petersen, Commissioner, MDA
Lucia Hunt, MDA, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response Director
Bruce Kleven, MN Turkey Growers Assn and the Chicken and Egg Assn of MN

Chair Sundin adjourned the meeting at 2:29 P.M.

_______________________________
Representative Mike Sundin, Chair

_______________________________
Kyle Smith, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..

Bills Added:

HF3212 (Kiel) - Ag Innovation Campus funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF3751 (Hansen) - Pesticide and fertilizer coatings prohibited that are not readily biodegradable.
HF3878 (Nelson) - Food Safety and Defense Task Force membership modified.
HF3999 (Lippert) - Regional and local food system report funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.

Documents:

HF3999 - MFMA Written Testimony.pdf - 3/7/2022
HF3751-0 Completed FN.pdf - 3/7/2022
HF3999 - UrsaStrategy Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
Minutes - March 7, 2022.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3751 - Sierra Club Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3999 - Medicine Creek Farm Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3751 - MCPR Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3999 - Conservation MN Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3999- MFU Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF 3751 - AgriGrowth Written Testimony.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3751 - DE3 Amendment (author).pdf - 3/8/2022
HPAI legislative update March 9 2022.pdf - 3/8/2022
Agenda - March 9, 2022.pdf - 3/8/2022
HF3999 - Eric Sannerud Written Testimony.pdf - 3/9/2022
3.9.22 MDA HPAI Prep Response Overview.pdf - 3/9/2022

Audio:
Listen Now

House TV Video:
View Archive

02:40 - HF3999 (Lippert) Regional and local food system report funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.
12:19 - HF3212 (Kiel) Ag Innovation Campus funding provided, and money appropriated.
32:50 - HF3878 (Nelson, N) Food Safety and Defense Task Force membership modified.
45:52 - HF3751 (Hansen) Pesticide and fertilizer coatings prohibited that are not readily biodegradable.
1:04:34 - Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
Runs 1 hour, 27 minutes.

Show Full Schedule Agenda:

I. HF3212 (Kiel) Ag Innovation Campus funding provided, and money appropriated.
- Mike Skaug, President, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
- Tom Slunecka, CEO, Ag Management Solutions

II. HF3751 (Hansen) Pesticide and fertilizer coatings prohibited that are not readily biodegradable.
- Sarah Erickson, Lobbyist United Strategies

III. BILL ADDED HF3878 (N. Nelson) Modifying membership of the Food Safety and Defense Task Force
- Tamara Nelsen, Executive Director, MN AgriGrowth Council

IV. BILL ADDED HF3999 (Lippert) Regional and local food system report funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.
- Lori D. Cox, Owner/Operator, Roots Return Heritage Farm, LLC
- Julia Wickham – Legislative Coordinator, Minnesota Farmers Union

V. Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
- Dr. Beth Thompson, Executive Director, Board of Animal Health
- Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Dept. of Agriculture
- Lucia Hunt, MDA, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response Director
- Bruce Kleven, MN Turkey Growers Assn and the Chicken and Egg Assn of MN

PUBLIC TESTIMONY: If you would like to sign up to testify, email Nancy.conley@house.mn no later than 1:00 PM, Tuesday, March 8. Depending on the number of people who sign up, testimony may be limited to 2 minutes/per person. Please use the same email and deadline to submit written testimony (in PDF file format).

MEETING DOCUMENTS: Meeting documents will be posted on the House Agriculture Committee website at https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/Committees/Home/92001

AMENDMENTS: Deadline for amendments is 4:00 PM, Tuesday, March 8.

This remote hearing may be viewed via the House webcast schedule page: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp All events are closed-captioned.

To provide feedback on digital accessibility of meeting information, please submit comments through the Minnesota Legislature Accessibility & Usability Comment Form. If you require an accommodation, please contact John Howe at: John.Howe@house.mn or by leaving a message at 651-296-3208. Please do not contact him with questions about the substance of the meeting agenda. To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access.

This remote hearing is taking place pursuant to Rule 10.01, which you may view here: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/permrule/permrule.asp