TENTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE TENTH MEETING
NINETY-THIRD SESSION



AGRICULTURE FINANCE & POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Samantha Vang, Chair of the Committee on Agricultural Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:01 PM on February 14, 2023 in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members Present:
VANG, Samantha, Chair
PURSELL, Kristi, Vice Chair
ANDERSON, Paul, Republican Lead
BURKEL, John
CHA, Ethan
FREDERICK, Luke
HANSEN, Rick
HARDER, Bobbie
JACOB, Steven
NELSON, Nathan
REHM, Lucy
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
TABKE, Brad

A quorum was present.

Representative Jacob moved to adopt the February 9, 2023 minutes. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Presentation from Second Harvest Heartland.

Presenting:
• Rachel Sosnowchik, Public Affairs Specialist, Second Harvest Heartland
• Zach Rodvold, Director of Government Affairs, Second Harvest Heartland

HF 1554 (Frederick); Second Harvest Heartland; reports required, grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

Representative Frederick presented HF 1554.

Representative Frederick moved that HF 1554 be laid over.

The following testified on HF 1554:
• Julie Vanhobe, Director of Sourcing and Demand Planning, Second Harvest Heartland
• Greg Pahl, Owner, Pahl Farmers
• Jessica Francis, Executive Director, Open Cupboard
• Deisy De Leon Esquada, Manager, Echo Food Shelf
• Rachel Sosnowchik, Public Affairs Specialist, Second Harvest Heartland

Representative Frederick renewed the motion that HF 1554 be laid over. The bill was laid over.

HF 1034 (Pursell); Cooperative grant program eligibility modified, and money appropriated.

Representative Pursell moved that HF 1034 be laid over.

Representative Pursell presented HF 1034.

The following testified on HF 1034:
• Anne Schwagerl, Founder, Perennial Promise Growers Association
• Rodrigo Cala, Farmer, Shared Ground Farmers Cooperative
• Jim Chamberlain, Conservation Technician, Happy Dance Turtle
• Stu Lourey, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Paul Hugunin, Director of Agriculture Marketing & Development Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Representative Pursell renewed the motion that HF 1034 be laid over. The bill was laid over.

Presentation from the Minnesota Milk Producers Association.

Presenting:
• Lucas Sjostrom, Executive Director, Minnesota Milk Producers Association
• Thomas Mursu, Dairy Farmer, Mursu Dairy Farm
• Tammy Mursu, Dairy Farmer, Mursu Dairy Farm
• Lucas Mursu, Dairy Farmer, Mursu Dairy Farm

The meeting adjourned at 2:28 P.M.


__________________________________________
Representative Samantha Vang, Chair


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Matthew Sauser, Committee Legislative Assistant