Video & Transcript Research : 'deer farm'
Page 3 of 293
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- They wanted to explore whether or not something could be done in farm deer that was analogous to what
- Could be done in farm deer that was analogous to what was done with the National Scrapie Eradication
- But, you know, deer farming has some special problems of its own.
- Now this is a little bit older figure, but we've tested about 120,000 deer nationwide that are farmed
- In any area that's releasing deer like this from a farm that have the genetics in them that you would
Keywords:
farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, hunting regulations, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation, commercial hunting, raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising
Summary:
The committee heard a lengthy presentation from Texas A&M professor Chris Seaberry on chronic wasting disease (CWD) genetics in deer and elk. He argued that susceptibility to CWD is polygenic, that genomic prediction can identify more resistant animals with high accuracy, and that selecting for resistant breeding values plus the PRNP codon 96 S allele could reduce disease prevalence. He said his work has been used in USDA/APHIS programs, that some facilities have been cleaned up using these methods, and that concerns about inbreeding, increased shedding, or harm to hunting quality are overstated. Committee members questioned the science, the risk of releasing potentially infected animals, the financial incentives for breeders, and whether wildlife agencies were resisting the program for philosophical or institutional reasons. The witness and senators also discussed the Department of Wildlife’s role, the Attorney General’s opinion, and whether the state should act more quickly or wait for more data.
The committee then took up House Bill 3270, which would shift rulemaking authority for the deer-release/CWD program from the Department of Wildlife to the Department of Agriculture after members said Wildlife had failed to promulgate rules for two years. The Department of Wildlife testified that it believed it had complied by collecting native deer samples and that it had been operating under a different understanding until the Attorney General’s March 5 opinion clarified the original law. After debate over agency inaction, the adequacy of the science, and the impact on deer breeders and hunters, the committee voted 3-9 against the bill, and HB 3270 failed.
The committee also confirmed Jessica Wilcox to an executive nomination by a 12-0 vote. It then advanced House Bill 3145, which clarifies tagging rules for commercial hunts by making $10 tags apply only to male native wildlife and $0 tags apply to female, feral swine, and exotic wildlife; the bill passed 12-0. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3056, which would allow unpasteurized cow, goat, and sheep milk to be sold at feed stores and farmers markets with labeling; members questioned gallon limits and whether the bill included adequate warning language, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture (11-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh Farm Bureau is first on our none. Uh Farm Bureau is first on our list.<00:02:18.480><c> Mr.
- eradicate those deers that are on<00:10:05.760><c> their</c><00:10:05.920><c> farm</c><00:10:06.320>
- </c> Farm Bureau. Thank you. Farm Bureau. Thank you.
- Credit</c> have with Farm Bureau, uh, Farm Credit have with Farm Bureau, uh, Farm Credit of<00:58:28.960
- It is and farm farming I is is coexist.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:01:00
Approval of Minutes 00:02:31
Kentucky Farm Bureau 00:02:42
Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:28:18
Kentucky Cattlemen's Association 01:48:13, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products.
Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December.
Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture and Wildlife Apr 20th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Agriculture and Wildlife
Transcript Highlights:
- But you know, deer farming has some special problems of its own, and so we may not be able to get it
- Now, this is a little bit older figure, but we tested about 120,000 deer nationwide that are farmed deer
- And then we started noticing by working at other different farms, that deer that were getting EHD or
- Apis came to me and wanted this for the farm deer.
- The test positive rate of the deer with good breeding values was less than 1% across those farms.
Keywords:
farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, hunting regulations, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation, commercial hunting, raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, 914, all
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight committee (6-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- value of transitioning family farms.
- at the family farm kitchen.
- at the family farm kitchen.
- </c> executive director of Community Farm executive director of Community Farm Alliance<00:20:30.400>
- </c> the lovely farms to food bank program. the lovely farms to food bank program.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:50
Approval of Minutes 00:01:21
KOAP Report 00:01:42
Community Farm Alliance and KY Double Dollars 00:20:25
Feeding Kentucky 00:40:55, 958, all
Summary:
The Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee received a monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and the A Development Board/Finance Corporation. Staff reviewed May activity, including county council visits, loan and grant approvals, farm safety funding, and support for beginning farmers, agricultural infrastructure, processing, and county/state projects. The committee also recognized an intern and thanked Tara Roberts for her service as she prepares to leave the agency. Members were reminded about a June 20 anniversary event marking 25 years of the office and related programs.
A major topic was K-CARD, the Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Staff explained that the program is being expanded to provide more technical assistance for beginning farmers and farm families, including help with business plans and estate planning/farm transition discussions. Members asked how farmers would access the service and were told the extension office would be the front-line contact, with K-CARD providing the technical assistance and neutral-site consultations.
The committee also discussed support for large food animal veterinarians. Staff said the incentive program has helped more than 33 veterinarians and is intended to support existing providers rather than quickly increase numbers; members raised concerns about the pipeline and selection process at Auburn University, and staff said discussions with the university were ongoing. The committee then heard from Community Farm Alliance on Kentucky Double Dollars, Fresh Rx for Moms, and farmers market support programs. CFA reported expansion to roadside stands, more retail onboarding, seven new counties, and estimated economic and farmgate impacts, emphasizing that state funding helps leverage federal and private dollars and stabilize local food access programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the May minutes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture Committee Meeting - 2025-04-09
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Farm and ranch members from across Minnesota.
- funding you put into farm to school.
- We need to define what exactly is a farm.
- Most of the grants are for $15,000, but the size of the farms ranges from a 2-acre sweet corn farm to
- a farm of 320 acres, so there's a big variation in farm size.
Bills:
HF2446
Keywords:
agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 2/17/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We are a grassroots general farm organization representing over 31,000 farm and ranch family farm and
- <00:47:16.119><c> transition</c><00:47:16.720><c> Farm</c> farm transition Farm farm transition Farm
- </c> uh Farm residents and our female Farm uh Farm residents and our female Farm residents<01:08:35.600
- </c> Farm Workers I understand the farm Farm Workers I understand the farm owners<01:16:47.560><c> but
- This allows us to speak to the public, give them information about dairy farms, beef farms, bee farms
Keywords:
agriculture, agricultural education, leadership development, Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council, MAELC, chapter 41D, grant funding, general fund appropriation, commissioner of agriculture, farm education, youth agriculture programs, ag literacy, workforce development, extension education, research funding, extension services, technology transfer, grant programs, 1183, house
OK
Keywords:
raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, animal cruelty, labor, employment definitions, agricultural services, Oklahoma Workforce Commission, confidentiality, data access, right to repair, agriculture, OEM, repair providers
Summary:
The committee took up several agriculture-related bills, many with committee substitutes and amendments. HB 356, dealing with raw, unpasteurized milk, was amended to limit sales for off-premise consumption and to provide liability protection for producers; members discussed whether restaurants should also receive protection and whether consumers should be notified, and the bill passed 4-2. HB 3391, requiring commercial pet breeders to include their state license number in advertisements and authorizing Agriculture Department rules and fines, passed 6-0. HB 3657, an Oklahoma Employment Security Commission request bill updating agricultural labor reporting language and allowing workforce data sharing with the Workforce Commission, passed 4-3 after questions about the type of data shared and a tie vote was broken by a member voting in the affirmative.
HB 3617, a right-to-repair bill for agricultural equipment, was amended to correct wording and to protect intellectual property, trade secrets, and warranties, but members questioned its scope and application date; it passed 5-1. HB 4055, the Breeding Animals Responsibly and with Care Act, was heavily amended to remove a section changing licensing thresholds and to set minimum fines, but it drew extensive questions about the new fund, inspection hours, fiscal impact, and whether it would burden the Department of Agriculture or consumers; it failed 3-4. HB 3902, a bill aimed at addressing pet overpopulation and allowing counties to act, prompted concerns about county zoning, sheriff workload, and unfunded mandates; the authors said they would continue working on the issue and strike the title later, and the bill passed 4-3 despite requests to lay it over.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- investment in farm advocates, new base funding for farm safety and rural mental health.
- from a 2-acre sweet corn farm to a 320-acre farm, so there is a big variation in farm size.
- from a 2-acre sweet corn farm to a 320-acre farm, so there is a big variation in farm size.
- </c> sweet corn farm to a farm of 320 acres. sweet corn farm to a farm of 320 acres.
- </c> So, it's a big variation in farm size. So, it's a big variation in farm size.
Bills:
HF2446
Keywords:
agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 4/7/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Uh line 95 is an appropriation for farm Uh line 95 is an appropriation for farm safety,<00:08:17.919
- </c><00:08:58.480><c> and</c> appropriation to the farm-toschool and appropriation to the farm-toschool
- Line 224 is the farm down payment assistance grants program.
- Paragraph C is for the farm down payment assistance grants.
- H is for farm advocate services.
Bills:
HF2446
Keywords:
agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- that the deer farm is infected or positive with CWD.
- 01:10:10.360><c> positive</c> that deer farm is infected or positive that deer farm is infected or positive
- With this bill, wild deer and farm deer would be able to have nose-to-nose contact, what we're trying
- Wild deer and farm deer would be able to have nose-to-nose contact, what we're trying to prevent in the
- It should be noted we're only out of whail deer farms; there's only 10 farms that are not in compliance
Keywords:
HF1621, CelluComp, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, appropriation, grant, commercialization, fiber-based barrier packaging, packaging materials, PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, plastic reduction, sustainable packaging, environmental health, materials innovation, bio-based packaging, food packaging, agriculture finance, one-time grant, state subsidy
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- On small farms, eggs are often the first visible enterprise a new farmer can bring to market.
- All farms can't afford mistakes.
- They don't want small farms to compete, even at the community level.
- Some may argue 500 dozen eggs is too much for small farms. That's based on industrial models.
- Do you think you could run a farm on... $6,000 a year? I mean, it's tight, right?
Bills:
SB1864
Keywords:
eggs, ungraded eggs, egg grading, poultry, farm products, local food, small farmers, direct-to-consumer sales, wholesale food sales, food safety, refrigeration requirements, sanitation standards, occupational license, dealer-wholesaler license, Texas Department of Agriculture, restaurants, small grocery stores, cooperatives, farmers cooperative, agricultural regulation
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture REVISED: HB3902 - Added Feb 16th, 2026 at 03:00 pm
Agriculture
Keywords:
raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, animal cruelty, labor, employment definitions, agricultural services, Oklahoma Workforce Commission, confidentiality, data access, right to repair, agriculture, OEM, repair providers
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So it can be bare land, farm site, or acres.
- So it can be bare land, farm site, or acres.
- </c> you were discussing the types of farms you were discussing the types of farms that<00:18:04.600>
- For the record, Hunter Peterson, Minnesota Farm Bureau, on behalf of our 31,000 family farm and ranch
- For the record, Hunter Peterson, Minnesota Farm Bureau, on behalf of our 31,000 family farm and ranch
Keywords:
HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Apr 2nd, 2025
Agriculture and Forestry
Transcript Highlights:
- However, there are also farm dogs… But there are also farm dogs that could easily be abused in the same
- Response: Yes, there is an exception for farm dogs, and this is addressed in the substitute.
Bills:
HB149
Keywords:
dog tethering, animal welfare, animal cruelty, outdoor shelter, dog confinement, leash laws, chaining dogs, trolley system, kennel standards, dog shelter requirements, Class B misdemeanor, veterinary practice, boarding kennel, animal shelter, hunting dogs, livestock herding, farm dogs, agricultural exemption, pet care, canine protection
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 35 Apr 6th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR1037, HR1043, SB1491, SB1451, SB1286, SB1581, SB1521, SB201, SB1290, SB169, SB1377, SB1991, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3
Keywords:
National Poetry Month, poetry, education, cultural celebration, arts and humanities, child abuse, prevention, community support, family safety, child welfare, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, voter registration, election integrity, Secretary of State, cancellation of registration, gender neutrality
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 35 Apr 6th, 2026
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR1037, HR1043, SB1491, SB1451, SB1286, SB1581, SB1521, SB201, SB1290, SB169, SB1377, SB1991, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3
Keywords:
National Poetry Month, poetry, education, cultural celebration, arts and humanities, child abuse, prevention, community support, family safety, child welfare, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, voter registration, election integrity, Secretary of State, cancellation of registration, gender neutrality
Summary:
The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, pledge, and a series of ceremonial recognitions and introductions. Chaplain Ronnie Wilson delivered the invocation, and the chamber honored Veteran of the Week Bobby Joe Floyd for his Army service and decades in Oklahoma law enforcement. Members also recognized a visiting youth performer, Nova Williams, and adopted House Resolution 1037 recognizing April as National Poetry Month and House Resolution 1043 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The House also featured several special presentations tied to Caregivers Day, including introductions of Dr. Mukesh Perrek as Doctor of the Day, Dr. Colby Kipp as Psychologist of the Day, and Cynthia Cothram as Nurse of the Day. Additional guests from Stillwater Medical Center and Share Medical Center were welcomed, and Representative West presented Metropolitan Library System poet laureate Hallie Waugh, reading one of her poems in honor of Poetry Month. Representative Hill then recognized the week’s pages, highlighting students from across Oklahoma and their academic and extracurricular achievements.
In floor action, Representative Schreiber moved to request further conference on House Bill 1851, and the motion was adopted without objection. The House also reassigned measures according to the Majority Floor Leader’s list. After announcements, Representative Kennedy hosted a special presentation for the Oklahoma Rifle Association and NRA-related guests, and the House adjourned until Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
AGR Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Agriculture & Food Systems
Transcript Highlights:
- for bona fide farming when farming is the primary activity.
- 29.440><c> and</c><00:40:30.000><c> farm</c><00:40:30.320><c> worker</c> allow farm dwellings and farm
- > worker</c> uh farm dwellings or farm worker uh farm dwellings or farm worker dwellings<00:44:45.119
- c> worker</c> have farm dwellings and farm worker have farm dwellings and farm worker housings.<00:44
- </c><00:45:40.240><c> that</c> farms and less of these fake farms that farms and less of these fake farms
Keywords:
HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture Committee Meeting - 2026-04-08
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> central farm service and clean counts. central farm service and clean counts.
- </c> partnership with central farm service. partnership with central farm service.
- </c> farm stress, and rural mental health. farm stress, and rural mental health.
- </c> then third the farm advocate program. then third the farm advocate program.
- How do you get land if you want to start farming or keep farming?
Keywords:
energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Farm Service Agency. >> Nelson. >> All right. Sorry. >> I withdraw. >> All right. Sorry.
- Farm Service Agency. >> Nelson. >> All right. Sorry. >> I withdraw. >> All right. Sorry.
- Farm Service Agency. >> Nelson. >> All right. Sorry. >> I withdraw. >> All right. Sorry.
- Farm Service Agency. >> Nelson. >> All right. Sorry. >> I withdraw. >> All right. Sorry.
- Farm Service Agency. >> Nelson. >> All right. Sorry. >> I withdraw. >> All right. Sorry.
Keywords:
agriculture, education, leadership council, compensation, research institute, dairy assistance, investment relief, agriculture support, food production, economic relief, investment, relief initiative, farm support, medication repository, drug donation, healthcare, Minnesota Statutes, pharmacy, public health, controlled substances
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture Apr 27th, 2026
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- My father farmed for my grandfather, who had a working farm. And we do not come here lightly.
- And I grew up on a farm. I'm a farm boy. I worked in the sugar fields. I love the farmers.
- Our parish is not anti-farming, by all means.
- We go overboard with farming, and we're not anti-farming, by all means. Great deal of respect.
- to school, the farm to table, all of those things.
Keywords:
crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2A program, seasonal workforce, Louisiana economy, Healthy Food Retail Act, food access, food deserts, economic opportunity, public health, Louisiana agriculture, community development, fresh food, agriculture, national security, food production, supply chain, security task force, farm labor, Chinese investments
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would create an Agricultural-based National Security Priorities Task Force to study issues such as Chinese drones, farmland ownership, and other technology-related concerns that could affect farmers and national security. Senator Kathy Stewart said the goal was to avoid unintended consequences in legislation and to bring agriculture stakeholders together. The resolution was moved favorably with no objections.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 502 on sugarcane bagasse storage. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the American Sugar Cane League, said the bill would clarify that bagasse is an agricultural byproduct and would protect storage practices that comply with department best practices from local ordinances. Several residents from St. Martin Parish testified in opposition, saying a large bagasse pile near their homes was out of compliance, created dust and odors, and caused health and property-value concerns. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably with no objections.
House Bill 512, by Representative Schamerhorn, would prohibit the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in Louisiana while allowing university research to continue. An amendment was adopted to make the bill effective only if certain federal court rulings allow such a ban. The sponsor and Commissioner Strain argued the issue is still scientifically uncertain and that the state should avoid costly litigation; the bill was reported favorably with amendments after no objections.
House Bill 1194, the Healthy Food Retail Act, was amended to shift food-desert research and mapping duties to the LSU AgCenter, while the financing authority would continue handling grants and related funding mechanisms. Supporters said the bill would improve data on food deserts and help target grocery access in underserved urban and rural areas; some members raised concerns about government subsidies and long-term dependence, but the sponsor and Commissioner Strain said the program is intended as infrastructure support to launch stores, not ongoing operating aid. After debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a 10-3 roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably House Concurrent Resolution 65, which urges federal action to reclassify crawfish-industry job duties as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes; testimony emphasized labor shortages, the impact on crawfish and rice producers, and the need for more legal guest workers. The meeting ended with a brief informational handout on direct marketing and custom slaughter plants and adjournment.