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Agriculture Finance and Policy

TWELFTH MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Monday, February 22, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWELFTH 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, February 22, 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. 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
LUECK, Dale
MILLER, Tim
NELSON, Nathan
THOMPSON, John

Rep. Vang moved to approve adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion prevailed. The minutes from the February 17, 2021 meeting were adopted.

State Officers from the MN FFA addressed the committee as part of FFA Week.
Emilee Xayanourom, MN FFA State Vice-President
Anna Euerle, MN FFA State President

MDA Emerging Farmers Report
Patrice Bailey, Assistant Commissioner, MDA
Michael Birchard, VP of Diversity & Equity, Inver Hills Community College
Henry Jimenez, Executive Director, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)
Naima Dhore, Founder of the Somali Farmer Association/Working Group Member

HF 1274 (J. Hanson) Permitting the commissioner of agriculture to accept donations on behalf of the emerging farmer working group

Rep. Hanson, J. moved that HF 1274 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Agriculture Finance bill and presented her bill.

Testifying:
Hannah Bernhardt, Emerging Farmers working group member, founder of Medicine Creek Farms

Rep. Hanson, J. renewed her motion and HF 1274 was laid over for possible inclusion.

HF 1010 (Lippert) Statewide soil health action plan development funding provided

Rep. Lippert moved that HF 1010 be recommended to be referred to the Environment & Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

Rep. Lippert moved the A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.

Testifying:
Dr. David Mulla, UMN
Jim Stark, LCC, Water Commission
Dr. Ann Marcelle Lewandowski, UMN

Chair Sundin provided context for a procedural motion to move HF 1010 out of committee.

Rep. Lippert moved a procedural motion to delete Section 3 of the bill and lay it over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Agriculture Finance bill. The motion prevailed, the amendment was adopted.

Rep. Lippert renewed his motion that HF 1010, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

AYES:
SUNDIN
VANG
ANDERSON
ECKLUND
HANSON, J.
KLEVORN
LIPPERT
NELSON
THOMPSON

NAYS:
BURKEL
LUECK
MILLER

Absent/Excused:
HANSEN, R.

There being 9 ayes and 3 nays, the motion prevailed.



HF 80 (Lippert) Farmer-lender mediation period extended

Chair Sundin brought back HF 80 before the committee.

Rep. Lippert moved the DE1 amendment.

Testifying:
Perry Aasness, Compeer Financial
Mark Miedtke, Citizens State Bank of Hayfield
Chuck Aug, representing Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota

The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.

Rep. Lippert renewed his motion that HF 80, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

AYES:
SUNDIN
VANG
ECKLUND
HANSEN, R.
HANSON, J.
KLEVORN
LIPPERT
THOMPSON

NAYS:
ANDERSON
BURKEL
LUECK
MILLER
NELSON

There being 8 ayes and 5 nays, the motion prevailed.


Chair Sundin adjourned the meeting at 2:30 P.M.




_______________________________
Representative Mike Sundin, Chair



_______________________________
Kyle Smith, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1010 (Lippert) - Statewide soil health action plan development funding provided, precision agriculture research and outreach funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF0080 (Lippert) - Farmer-Lender Mediation Act extended, time period that creditors cannot enforce eligible debts increased, and mediation period increased.
  • HF1274 (Hanson) - Commissioner of agriculture permitted to accept donations on behalf of emerging farmer working group, emerging farmer account provided, and emerging farmer account money transfer authorized.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:50 - Welcome to FFA state officers.
09:19 - Emerging Farmers' Working Group Report.
45:09 - HF1274 (Hanson) Commissioner of agriculture permitted to accept donations on behalf of emerging farmer working group, emerging farmer account provided, and emerging farmer account money transfer authorized.
52:44 - HF1010 (Lippert) Statewide soil health action plan development funding provided, precision agriculture research and outreach funding provided, agricultural best management practice loan program funding increased, and money appropriated.
1:08:08 - HF80 (Lippert) Farmer-lender mediation period extended.
Runs 1 hour, 29 minutes.


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/1001.htm

I. FFA State Officers welcome
II. Emerging Farmers Working Group Report
III. HF 1274 (J. Hanson) Permitting the commissioner of agriculture to accept donations on behalf of the emerging farmer working group; providing an emerging farmer account; transferring money to the emerging farmer account
IV. HF 1010 (Lippert) Statewide soil health action plan development funding provided
V. *HF 80 (Lippert) Farmer-lender mediation period extended
Other bills may be added.

*HF 80 was originally heard on January 25, 2021. Amendments will be considered.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Please contact nancy.conley@house.mn by 4:00 PM, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021 if you would like to sign up to testify on any bill/amendment (testimony may be limited to 2 minutes/person). Written testimony is encouraged and should be submitted by 4:00 PM, Friday to ensure it will be posted on the committee website and provided to members in advance of the hearing.

PUBLIC VIEWING: This remote hearing may be viewed via the House webcast schedule page: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp NOTE: HTV 1 and HTV 2 will provide live closed captioning. Video archives of meetings streamed on HTV 3, 4, and 5 will have closed captions added. Other reasonable accessibility accommodations may be made with advance notice.

PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY: If you have questions about the accessibility of remote hearings or require an accommodation, please contact Jenny Nash at: jenny.nash@house.mn or by leaving a message at 651-296-4122. Please do not contact her with questions about the substance of the meeting agenda.

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