TWENTIETH MEETING

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



AGRICULTURE FINANCE & POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Samantha Vang, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM on March 21, 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 Pursell moved to adopt the March 16, 2023, minutes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Presentation from the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation on National Agriculture Day.

Presenting:
• Dan Glessing, President, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation

Representative Pursell assumed the gavel at 1:05 pm.

HF 1587 (Vang); Nonnative Phragmites added to noxious weed provisions.

Representative Vang moved that HF 1585 be re-referred to the general register.

Representative Vang moved the DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Vang presented HF 1587, as amended.

The following testified on HF 1587, as amended:
• Lori Cox, Owner, Root Return
• Stu Lourey, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Peder Kjeseth, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Representative Vang renewed the motion that HF 1587, as amended, be re-referred to the general register.

Representative Vang assumed the gavel at 1:14 pm

HF 2387 (Hansen); Fur Farmer registration requirements modified, commercial permits for restricted species eliminated, and feral pigs and mink report required.

Representative Hansen moved that HF 2387 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Hansen moved the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Hansen presented HF 2387, as amended.

The following testified on HF 2387, as amended:
• Challis Hobbs, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA
• AJ Durell, Lobbyist, Minnesota Pork Producers Association
• Patrick Rivers, Deputy Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Thom Peterson, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Representative Hansen renewed the motion that HF 2387, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

HF 2142 (Tabke); Grant program established to prevent wolf-livestock conflict, and money appropriated.

Representative Tabke moved that HF 2142 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.
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Representative Tabke presented HF 2142.

The following testified on HF 2142:
• Hannah Bernhardt, Owner, Medicine Creek Farm

Representative Tabke renewed the motion that HF 2142 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

HF 127 (Burkel); Wolf and Elk depredation payment funding provided, and money appropriated.

Representative Burkel moved that HF 127 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Burkel moved the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Burkel presented HF 127, as amended.

The following testified on HF 127, as amended:
• Miles Kuschel, Lobbyist, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
• Patrick Rivers, Deputy Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Representative Burkel renewed the motion that HF 127, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill is laid over.

HF 2299 (Anderson); Deer abatement and crop damage report funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.

Representative Anderson moved that HF 2299 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Anderson presented HF 2299.

The following testified on HF 2299:
• Brad Hovel, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
• Patrick Rivers, Deputy Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Representative Anderson renewed the motion that HF 2299 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.


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Representative Samantha Vang, Chair


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Matthew Sauser, Committee Legislative Assistant