Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Present: Senator Aric Putnam - Chair, Senator Robert J. Kupec - Vice Chair, Senator Torrey N. Westrom - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Bruce D. Anderson, Senator Gary H. Dahms, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Judy Seeberger
Absent: No Members Absent
3:00 PM, 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Minutes
Present: Senator Aric Putnam - Chair, Senator Robert J. Kupec - Vice Chair, Senator Torrey N. Westrom - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Bruce D. Anderson, Senator Gary H. Dahms, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Judy Seeberger
Absent: No Members Absent
Senator Aric Putnam called the meeting to order at 3:06pm. Gavel changed to Senator Kupec.
Call to Order *Only 1 Testifier will be allowed for each bill. Contact the bill author if you wish to testify*
*Additional Written Testimony will be accepted*.
S.F. 1894: Senator Putnam: Federal accreditation requirement of benefit services providers.
No new testimony taken at this time. Senator Putnam moves A-7 amendment. A-7 amendment is adopted. Gavel changes to Senator Putnam
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1894, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
No new testimony taken at this time. Senator Putnam moves A-7 amendment. A-7 amendment is adopted. Gavel changes to Senator Putnam
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1894, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
S.F. 2217: Senator Seeberger: Minnesota State Horticultural Society appropriations.
Testifiers: Paul Markwardt – Treasurer, Board of Directors, Minnesota State Horticultural Society
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2217, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Paul Markwardt – Treasurer, Board of Directors, Minnesota State Horticultural Society
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2217, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 1831: Senator Kupec: County agricultural inspector grants appropriation.
Testifiers: Bob Duning – Stearns County, County Agricultural Inspector, Anthony Cortilet – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1831, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Bob Duning – Stearns County, County Agricultural Inspector, Anthony Cortilet – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1831, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 2147: Senator Kupec: Livestock investment grant program grant awards modification.
Testifiers: Hannah Bernhardt – Finlayson farmer, Climate Land Leaders, Courtney VanderMey – MDA Ag Marketing & Development, Theresa Keavney – Climate Land Leaders Senator Putnam moves A-2 amendment, amendment is adopted.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2147, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Hannah Bernhardt – Finlayson farmer, Climate Land Leaders, Courtney VanderMey – MDA Ag Marketing & Development, Theresa Keavney – Climate Land Leaders Senator Putnam moves A-2 amendment, amendment is adopted.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2147, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 1770: Senator Kupec: Northern crops institute grants appropriation.
Testifiers: David Boehm – Director, Northern Crops Institute
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1770, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: David Boehm – Director, Northern Crops Institute
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1770, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 305: Senator Lang: Meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities appropriation.
Testifiers: Paul Sobocinski – Farmer, Minnesota Farmers Union, Ashley Bress – Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Andrea Vaubel – Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 305, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Paul Sobocinski – Farmer, Minnesota Farmers Union, Ashley Bress – Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Andrea Vaubel – Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 305, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 1805: Senator Dahms: Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association grants appropriation.
Testifiers: John Dvorak – Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1805, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: John Dvorak – Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 1805, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 2137: Senator Johnson: Minnesota Turf Seed Council grants appropriation.
Testifiers: Bruce Kleven, MN Turf Seed Council
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2137, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Bruce Kleven, MN Turf Seed Council
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2137, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Presentation from the University of Minnesota on Precision Ag. & the FAARM Project.
Presenter: Shashank Priya – VP of Research & Innovation, University of Minnesota, Brian Buhr – Dean, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences
Presenter: Shashank Priya – VP of Research & Innovation, University of Minnesota, Brian Buhr – Dean, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10pm
|
Senator Aric Putnam, Chair |
Keely Spens, Legislative Assistant |