FIRST MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA FIRST 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 Monday, January 11, 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.

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

A quorum was present. No members were absent.

Members and staff introduced themselves to the committee.

Ken Savary, House Fiscal Analyst, presented an overview of the budget and committee accounts.

State agency staff, stakeholders, and members of the public were invited to introduce themselves:
• Commissioner Thom Petersen, MN Department of Agriculture (MDA)
• Dr. Beth Thompson, Executive Director, Board of Animal Health (BAH)
• Peder Kjeseth, Legislative Director, MDA and BAH
• Dan Skogen, Director of Government Relations, Agriculture Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
• AJ Duerr, MN Biodiesel Council; MN Soybean Growers Association; MN Pork Producers Association; MN Association of Agriculture Educators (MAAE); MN Federation of County Fairs
• Bill Bond, MN Crop Production Retailers
• Sarah Dornink, MN Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC)
• Kari Schwab, MAELC
• Laura Lemke, MN Grain & Feed Association
• Jamie Pfuhl, MN Grocers Association
• Patrick Murray, MN AgriGrowth Council
• Brendan Jordan, Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota
• Christine Coughlin, MN Humane Society of the U.S.
• Julie Tesch, Center for Rural Policy & Development
• Gary Wertish, MN Farmers Union
• Bruce Kleven, multiple stakeholder organizations
• Amanda Koehler and Matthew Sheets, Land Stewardship Project
• Josie Lonetti, MN Farm Bureau



Chair Sundin adjourned the meeting at 2:05 P.M.





_______________________________
Representative Mike Sundin, Chair





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Kyle Smith, Committee Legislative Assistant