Video & Transcript Research : 'agricultural conservation'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN Public Hearing 01-28-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • production by producers who adopt conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture, organic agriculture
  • production by producers who adopt conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture, organic agriculture
  • production by producers who adopt conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture, organic agriculture
  • </c><01:18:10.000><c> agriculture</c> support for conservation agriculture support for conservation agriculture
  • >> Members questions. >> So, so what are conservation agriculture and soil health incentive programs?
Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture and Wildlife Apr 13th, 2026 at 10:00 am

Agriculture and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:
  • And this is you know, if you're in agriculture, if you're Kevin heifers, they don't do it during business
  • There haven't been any research experts or conservation experts that have Basically studied the population
  • Nels Rodefeld, Assistant Director at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
  • So if you'll look on B, it says the Oklahoma Agriculture Extension Division shall not, and then it goes
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs May 5th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Texas Farm and Ranch Land Conservation Program allows landowners to voluntarily protect their agricultural
  • working agricultural lands.
  • To protect working agricultural lands, we must ensure that the conservation efforts go to those who are
  • income are tied to agricultural production.
  • Texas loses approximately 1,000 acres of agricultural land every day.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN-WLA, AEN Public Hearings 02-11-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:02:19.440><c> and</c> re the department of agriculture and re the department of agriculture and
  • </c><00:08:10.160><c> and</c> the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture and Biocurity
  • </c> important to have uh land conservation important to have uh land conservation and<00:20:17.919><
  • Our testimony reference, Agriculture.
  • </c> Create a healthy soils or conservation agriculture incentive.
Summary: The committee heard several measures related to agriculture, invasive species control, trees, reef protection, and land use. SP 2489 would require Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity leases to include access, invasive-species control, and termination provisions; DAB and DLNR supported it, as did several outside groups, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council raised concerns about notice, cooperation with lessees, and placing penalties on leaseholders for preexisting infestations. The chair noted six testifiers in support, one opposed, and three with comments. SP 2310 would appropriate funds to remove overgrown vegetation from the Kohola stream. DAB supported the bill but explained that the work already completed by its contractor stopped at a DOT boundary, and that the affected parcel appears to be a DOT highway segment on ceded lands; the committee discussed whether the appropriation should instead go to DOT. SP 2372, on exceptional and significant trees, received support from DNR and Outdoor Circle, with testimony describing trees as critical infrastructure and suggesting technical amendments to committee membership and the process for recommending trees to county councils. SP 2426, which would authorize DNR to contract with private parties to maintain sunscreen dispensers at state beaches and promote mineral-based sunscreen as reef-protective, drew support from DNR and reef advocates, while another witness questioned the science behind claims about mineral versus chemical sunscreens and urged broader environmental solutions. SP 2334 would impose a land conversion fee on agricultural land converted to other uses, create a fee fund for programs including healthy soils, and require state agricultural lands to use a conservation metric. DAB offered comments, and testimony from climate and farm groups generally supported the conservation goals but questioned references to programs not yet in place and objected to language excluding solar and wind uses, with one witness urging that agri-voltaics remain allowed. SP 2925, concerning coconut trees, would recognize them as food, water, and cultural resources, require signage for landscape palms, set labeling standards, and create a tax credit for naturally managed consumable coconut trees. DAB shifted from opposition to comments, DNR supported, and testimony from cultural and subsistence advocates strongly backed the bill as a response to coconut rhinoceros beetle impacts; committee questions focused on enforcement of signage, inspection resources, and the proposed tax credit.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AGR Public Hearing - Wed Mar 18, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • Agriculture. Agriculture.
  • </c> agricultural project into something big. agricultural project into something big.
  • And fortunately, we have an existing statute around agricultural conservation easements that I think
  • </c><01:26:28.800><c> conservation</c> being put into agricultural conservation being put into agricultural
  • </c> an existing statute around agricultural an existing statute around agricultural conservation<01:
Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2885 SD1, which would create mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material beginning in 2027, with penalties and an effective date. Support came from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, DLNR, Maui County Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Testifiers generally said the bill would help reduce CRB spread, though some urged additional science-backed methods, better coordination, and technical or cost-share support for smaller operations. Hawaiian Earth Recycling recommended amendments to align the bill with existing Department of Health/EPA composting rules, add other materials that can harbor CRB, allow future approved treatment methods, and replace the bill’s 60-day turning requirement with existing pathogen-reduction standards. One individual supported the goal but argued the state’s CRB strategy has lacked community and cultural consultation and should include a cultural advisement role. Department witnesses said enforcement would rely on inspection and an educate-before-regulate approach, and they noted the challenge of creating enough drop-off sites, especially in rural areas. The committee then took up SB 2174 SD2, which would authorize the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to declare an emergency quarantine, halt operations in affected areas for 96 hours with possible extension, quarantine suspected pest areas, issue notices and compensation to affected farmers, and adopt interim transportation rules for materials that may harbor high-impact invasive species. The department and DLNR supported the measure, emphasizing the need for fast action in the first hours of an invasion. Hawaii Farmers Union supported the compensation provisions but asked for stronger communication with producers and a post-action report to the Board of Agriculture after about 90 days to evaluate effectiveness and economic impacts. In response to questions, department staff said the bill would be a short-term, department-only quarantine authority distinct from the governor-declared biosecurity emergency authority enacted previously, and that it could serve as an intermediate step. They also said outreach would need to be done through farm organizations such as Farmers Union, Farm Bureau, and Cattlemen’s groups. The final measure discussed was SB 2925 SD1, relating to coconut trees. The bill would recognize coconut trees as a source of food and water and a cultural treasure, require rules for coconut tree seed banks, require signage identifying landscape palms where applicable, set labeling standards for non-consumable landscape palms, and create an income tax credit for consumable coconut trees maintained through natural management practices. The transcript ended before testimony or action on this bill was completed, and no vote was taken on any of the measures discussed in the portion provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • Agriculture usually is the least partisan, and I think we showed that again this year.
  • He said agriculture is facing some pretty difficult times coming up in the next year or so, and this
  • was not the time to increase fees on anybody associated with agriculture.
  • <00:17:01.040><c> Utilization</c><00:17:01.600><c> Research</c> Agricultural Utilization Research Agricultural
  • Again, this is the agriculture bill.
Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Ways and Means Committee 4/21/25

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> wraps up the Department of Agriculture. wraps up the Department of Agriculture.
  • ,</c><00:37:00.079><c> hey</c> tell Department of Agriculture, hey tell Department of Agriculture, hey
  • Again, this is the agriculture bill.
  • Again, this is the agriculture bill.
  • Again, this is the agriculture bill.
Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture and Wildlife Apr 6th, 2026 at 10:00 am

Agriculture and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:
  • I call the Agriculture Committee to order. We're going to jump around on the agenda.
  • Chairman, I'd like to bring up someone from the Department of Agriculture if that would be okay with
  • Sorry, my name is Tina Gunter, and I'm with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
  • So, the authority would still be vested in the Secretary of Agriculture of any administration, but it's
  • The Department of Agriculture has always been great to work with me being a rural member.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture and Wildlife Apr 6th, 2026

Agriculture and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:
  • I call the Agriculture Committee to order. We're going to jump around on the agenda.
  • My name is Tina Gunter and I'm with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.
  • So the authority would still be vested in the Secretary of Agriculture of any administration.
  • So the state vet is very, very important, and it's important to our agriculture industry in the state
  • Oh, commas. ...our agriculture industry in the state of Oklahoma.
Summary: The Agriculture Committee heard and advanced a series of bills focused on burn bans, poultry waste regulation, veterinary qualifications, wildlife, and land management. House Bill 3406, presented by Senator Hines, would make burn bans easier to declare when conditions warrant, require earlier review so bans do not linger unnecessarily, remove certain local fire departments from the decision process, and preserve a prescribed-burn exemption for farmers. After questions about the shortened ban period and the removal of local fire departments, the bill passed 12-0. House Bill 2975, presented by Senator Woods, was amended to restore contact information for poultry litter haulers and to streamline nutrient management plan amendments for poultry waste that is moved off-site and land-applied. Department of Agriculture testimony said the change would reduce duplication for producers who both export and land-apply litter while maintaining tracking of waste management. The bill passed 11-2. House Bill 3977, also by Senator Woods, would add food-animal and veterinary practice experience to the qualifications for the state veterinarian; members discussed whether wildlife experience should also be considered, but the bill passed unanimously 13-0. The committee also passed House Bill 3263, designating the morel mushroom as the state mushroom in honor of David Beyer, and House Bill 2988, which expands harmful woody species to include redberry juniper, ash juniper, and honey mesquite and broadens the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act statewide. Members emphasized the impact of red cedars on water use and wildfire risk. House Bill 3404, a follow-up measure on prescribed burns, passed 12-0, and House Bill 1770, directing OSU and its veterinary college to conduct elk population studies in northwest Oklahoma, passed 10-2 after questions about cost and the role of Wildlife Department studies. The chair then adjourned the meeting.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs will come to order.
  • Conservation District. The Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District was created in 2003.
  • We now realize the impact bats have on our agricultural industry and the quality of life.
  • If they need to be relocated, it's a wildlife conservation matter, not a pest control issue.
  • Bats are the first line of defense for Texas agriculture.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. So we can meet at 4:14. The Chair lays out Senate Bill.
  • Senate Bill 2661 allows members of groundwater conservation districts to enforce their rules by setting
  • The TCEQ is not getting tested like the groundwater conservation... ...districts are.
  • And we're not giving groundwater conservation districts the authority to assess these penalties.
  • I represent a number of groundwater conservation districts in support of Senate Bill 2662.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs (Part II) Apr 14th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair. 2661 members groundwater conservation districts enforce their rules by setting reasonable penalties
  • The TCQs are not getting tested like the groundwater conservation districts are, but it's disingenuous
  • Uh, and we're not giving groundwater conservation districts authority to assess these penalties.
  • I represent a number of groundwater conservation districts in support of Senate Bill 2662.
  • Uh, relating to the management plans adopted by Groundwater Conservation District by 1583 by Senator
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AGR Public Hearing - Wed Feb 4, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> for lands in the conservation district. for lands in the conservation district.
  • c> sugar</c> agriculture agriculture other than sugar agriculture agriculture other than sugar on<00:
  • </c> agriculture and bio security. agriculture and bio security.
  • </c> lands in perpetuity to agriculture. lands in perpetuity to agriculture.
  • </c> agriculture.
Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and then took testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 2425 would exempt agricultural enterprises on former commercial sugarcane lands in conservation use districts from certain permitting and site plan requirements. The Department of Agriculture supported the measure and stood on written comments. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but said the bill appeared to cite the wrong statute and suggested amending the conservation district law instead. Other testimony was generally supportive, while some witnesses raised concerns about using the right statutory vehicle. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be redirected through a different chapter. The committee then heard HB 596, which would require retail sellers of plants to disclose invasiveness risk, direct the Invasive Species Council to create a labeling system and weed risk assessments, and establish fines. The Department of Land and Natural Resources strongly supported the bill, saying point-of-sale labels would help consumers make informed choices. Supporters from the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species said the state’s noxious weed and restricted plant lists are outdated or incomplete and that the bill would help prevent harmful species from being purchased and planted. Opponents, including the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, argued the measure was too broad, could stigmatize plants and producers, and might be better implemented through voluntary education or narrower definitions. Committee discussion focused on possible amendments, including using printable labels from a website and limiting the bill to larger commercial retailers. HB 2573 would create a five-year agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program involving the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Leeward Community College, and the Department of Human Resources Development. DHRD said it supported the intent but wanted clearer responsibilities; the University of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, and others supported the proposal. DAB said the program would help build needed biosecurity staffing and training, and that law-enforcement-related curriculum could be incorporated. Finally, the committee began hearing HB 207, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include certain Hawaiian homelands and additional agricultural costs such as orchards, fruit crops, and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Taxation and DAB stood on written comments, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands strongly supported the bill, calling it a potential game-changer for developing agricultural lands and offsetting infrastructure costs; the department also asked that the credit be broadened beyond agriculture alone.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WLA Public Hearing 02-04-2026

Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> So adequate equipment for conservation So adequate equipment for conservation enforcement,<00:53
  • </c> So for decades, you know, conservation So for decades, you know, conservation the<00:54:25.200><
  • </c> indeed an integral part of agriculture. indeed an integral part of agriculture.
  • </c><01:03:04.160><c> Biocurity</c> Department of Agriculture and Biocurity Department of Agriculture
  • </c> showcasing what we do in agriculture. showcasing what we do in agriculture.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2603, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state orchestra of Hawaii. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Attorney General’s office, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and others. Supporters emphasized the bill’s value to arts education, cultural vitality, and the visitor economy. The chair noted there were also many written testimonies submitted, and the bill was left without questions or action in the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2083, which would create a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group within DNR. The State Historic Preservation Division supported the bill and said it would help create a statewide database and better planning for state-owned historic properties, while noting its current review work is reactive and project-by-project. The committee asked about duplication and existing consultation processes; SHPD said it already reviews state projects under existing law and has in-house architectural staff. The measure was then set aside after brief discussion, with no vote shown in the excerpt. Next was Senate Bill 2341, which would authorize phased review of certain private-property projects and change SHPD’s review deadlines. SHPD and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the bill, saying it could encourage more proactive, programmatic review and that the current average review time for simple projects is about 56 days. Several opponents, including Sierra Club of Hawaii, Bianca Isaki, Malama Kane Lua, and Tara Roas, argued phased review would delay projects, create conflict, and weaken historic preservation protections, especially for iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Committee members raised concerns about whether the bill conflicted with prior court decisions and asked SHPD for its view; SHPD said it was not a legal question for them and suggested a programmatic alternative. The bill was not voted on in the excerpt. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2306 on administrative fees for the Bureau of Conveyances. HGEA opposed the measure, focusing on a provision allowing the special fund to be used for qualified contractors, while the Bureau of Conveyances supported the bill as a fee correction that would equalize recording fees between systems. The bureau said specialized technical work sometimes requires outside contracting and that it could consider a contract period; the chair and members discussed the HGEA concern and asked whether the issue could be addressed. No final action was shown in the excerpt.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources May 14th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill prohibits the district from assessing production fees or for requiring meters on agricultural
  • So every time you replace a water line, that's conservation right there.
  • I have an agricultural well. I have an exempt residential well.
  • Um Wimberley Water Supply Corporation supports a healthy economic groundwater conservation district.
  • I'm an attorney representing the Hayes Trinity Groundwater Conservation District in support of Senate
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources May 14th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Groundwater Conservation District Authority. Members, with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.
  • I'm the general manager of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.
  • So every time you replace a water line, that's conservation right there.
  • I have an agricultural well and an exempt residential well.
  • Wimberley Water Supply Corporation supports a healthy economic groundwater conservation district.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee Apr 9th, 2025

Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:
  • natural resources, especially something that the... resources, especially something that the state conservation
  • Committee members, the question that the Department of Conservation was asked to look at is whether or
  • exempts off-road vehicles used exclusively on private property or for on private property or for agricultural
  • You still use those for agricultural purposes just like you have. agricultural purposes just like you
Bills: HB352, HB366, SB272, SB296
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AGR Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • Establishes the conservation and agriculture environmental stewardship pilot program within the Department
  • Oahu Agriculture and Conservation Association and Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council
  • Um Oahu Agriculture and<00:50:16.480><c> Conservation</c><00:50:17.040><c> Association</c><00:50:18.240
  • </c><00:50:30.559><c> agriculture</c><00:50:31.119><c> on</c><00:50:31.280><c> the</c> doing conservation
  • agriculture on the doing conservation agriculture on the ground.<00:50:32.160><c> Last</c><00:50:32.400