Transcript Highlights:

• I'll also say that as farmers who produce corn and soybeans, we rely on these workers, too.
• that as farmers who produce<00:40:54.040> corn<00:40:54.360> and<00:40:54.480> soybeans
• ,<00:40:55.160> we<00:40:55.320> rely<00:40:55.600> on produce corn and soybeans
• , we rely on produce corn and soybeans, we rely on these<00:40:55.880> workers,<00:40:56.280><

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held a hearing on the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Testifiers described broad effects on cities, small businesses, workers, and schools, and several speakers voiced support for House File 4477, which would create a targeted state relief program for affected businesses and communities. Metro Cities said member cities reported unexpected burdens on public safety, public works, emergency management, and other local services, and its board adopted a policy supporting state assistance for those costs. Northstar Policy Action presented data arguing the operation contributed to higher unemployment, reduced hours, lost wages, and business losses, including a reported $106 million in lost wages from reduced hours and an estimated $18 million per week in taxpayer costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the city incurred nearly $1 million in direct costs and estimated small businesses lost about $16 million per week, with major drops in foot traffic and sales, especially among immigrant-owned neighborhood businesses. Other testimony emphasized impacts outside the metro area and on specific communities. Georgia Gallardo of Kerkhoven Cattle Butcher said rural small businesses also suffered, citing reduced sales and weekend traffic. The Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs reported that Latino-owned businesses support thousands of jobs and have seen sales declines of 40% to 90%, while WomenVenture and the Minnesota CDFI Coalition said CDFIs were seeing urgent demand for flexible relief and described businesses delaying hiring, reducing hours, or pausing expansion. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruly said federal agents’ conduct during the surge undermined trust, created public safety concerns, and led to overtime and other local costs, while also noting he supports federal immigration enforcement in principle. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the district lost 112 students since December, still had 72 not returned, and had to rapidly create a virtual learning option for students who did not feel safe attending in person. Across the hearing, witnesses argued the disruption was statewide, not limited to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and that state relief was needed to prevent business closures, job losses, and longer-term damage to communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The project is operating in the state's sugar beet and soybean fields.
• He mainly does soybeans, and he was issued a map, and due to the amount, and if you look on pages...
• or selling out, and everybody went to just production agriculture, raising corn, wheat, whatever, soybeans
• We've got Farm Bureau, Farmers Union, soybean growers, Other ag groups that are looking at sending letters

Summary: The committee opened its third interim meeting with roll call, approved the November 13, 2025 minutes, and the chair reviewed prior committee work, including a denied request for a fertilizer-capacity study and a planned later discussion of the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger issue. Commissioner Doug Goring then presented Department of Agriculture updates on uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, the state’s irrigation potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and supply in North Dakota. Members asked about funding sources, fertilizer storage and availability, natural gas and water needs for future fertilizer plants, and how the model zoning website would help counties and townships apply setback and odor tools. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the department is proposing changes to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and updated hydrologic data, while still limiting the model to direct, demonstrable costs and benefits. He said the goal is to make the analysis more realistic and consistent without changing statute, and he provided examples of how project benefits could change as drains age or as rainfall and flood data evolve. Committee members and water-user representatives generally supported continued work on the proposal, while raising concerns about downstream impacts, closed-basin projects, and whether the changes would meaningfully affect project approvals. The committee then heard from John Paskowski, state engineer, on Devil’s Lake, the West End and East End outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. He reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow limits, and explained that the control structure is intended to prevent a catastrophic uncontrolled release by slowing erosion and head cutting. Members asked about water quality trends, the length of the downstream flow constraint, and whether the Tolna Coulee area had been studied for possible natural overflow or silt buildup. The discussion emphasized ongoing flooding concerns, mitigation for affected landowners, and the need to balance outlet operations with downstream water quality and infrastructure protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the great state of Minnesota, we do corn, soybeans, other things, and there's just no reason we
• 44.760> corn, great state of Minnesota, we do corn, great state of Minnesota, we do corn, soybeans
• 46.240> things<00:47:46.760> and<00:47:47.520> there's<00:47:47.680> just soybeans
• , other things and there's just soybeans, other things and there's just no<00:47:48.000> reason

Bills: HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852

Keywords: infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• , grapes, dry edible beans, hard red spring wheat, hard red white wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, soybeans
• going to ask a question about that, and I’m going to kind of point it in the direction that corn and soybeans
• you compare North Dakota to other states, particularly the I states, as you mentioned, corn and soybeans
• It's, as you mentioned, corn and soybeans are critically important across the entire U.S. ag economy.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We raised corn, soybeans, and hogs.
• Minnesota in wwan County we<01:13:09.920> raised<01:13:10.239> corn<01:13:10.560> soybeans
• /c><01:13:11.159> and<01:13:11.600> Hogs<01:13:12.600> we're we raised corn soybeans
• and Hogs we're we raised corn soybeans and Hogs we're also<01:13:13.120> proud<01:13:13.360><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• China has announced tariffs on U.S. soybean imports as well.
• uh<00:10:15.519> tariffs<00:10:16.040> on<00:10:16.320> us<00:10:16.600> soybean
• ><00:10:17.200> Imports<00:10:18.079> as<00:10:18.320> well uh tariffs on us soybean
• Imports as well uh tariffs on us soybean Imports as well uh<00:10:19.399> those<00:10:19.600>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also raise corn and soybeans, so we use our turkey manure as fertilizer, and it's a little bit lower
• for our because we also raise corn there for our because we also raise corn and<00:32:04.880> soybeans
• > use<00:32:05.799> our<00:32:05.960> Turkey<00:32:06.279> manur and soybeans
• so we use our Turkey manur and soybeans so we use our Turkey manur um<00:32:07.240> as<00:32:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not just the program crops, the rice, the wheat, the corn, the soybeans.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture first moved through a series of animal welfare bills, reporting all of them to the floor. The measures included bills on sentencing for aggravated cruelty to animals, additional aggravated cruelty provisions, penalties for animal abandonment, requiring owners or lessors of vacated properties to inspect for abandoned animals, and restricting surgical depopulation procedures on dogs and pets. Members generally expressed support, and each bill advanced by motion and voice vote with no noted opposition or recusals; one additional bill was held by the sponsor. The committee then heard from Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball, who gave an update on state and federal agriculture issues. He discussed the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, federal farm bill negotiations, specialty crops, labor and H-2A reform, dairy margin coverage concerns, possible cuts to EQIP, organic certification funding, trade and USMCA review, tariffs and input costs, and disaster concerns affecting Long Island seafood producers. He also highlighted state programs such as Nourish New York, Dairy Modernization, farm-to-school efforts, and workforce development initiatives. Members asked questions about raw milk sales, H-2A labor, solar siting on farmland, farm-to-school expansion, tariff impacts, and support for farmers facing federal cuts and rising costs. Ball said raw milk sales remain limited to licensed on-farm sales with inspections and warnings, supported reform of H-2A and broader labor policy, urged protecting prime and actively farmed land from solar development, and emphasized the need to preserve food access programs like Nourish New York and farmers market nutrition benefits. The meeting ended after the commissioner’s testimony and member discussion, with no further formal action beyond the earlier bill reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we think of agriculture in Northwest Minnesota, you think a lot of sugar beets, corn, wheat, soybeans
• see this in this committee, for example: we have the Corn Research Promotion Council, the wheat, soybean
• And when it comes to corn and soybeans, the major seed companies have private labels for wheat and barley
• Biomanufacturing leverages agricultural products such as corn, soybean, specialty crops, and forestry
• Biomanufacturing leverages agricultural products such as corn, soybean, specialty crops, and forestry

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, corn, soybeans, natural gas, and other fuels have been identified and taxed as specified
• Since<00:47:22.119> then,<00:47:23.119> corn,<00:47:23.920> soybeans,<00:47:24.800
• > natural<00:47:25.280> gas, Since then, corn, soybeans, natural gas, Since then, corn,
• soybeans, natural gas, and<00:47:26.000> other<00:47:26.240> fuels<00:47:26.800> have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Standing crops, so some harvest maps showing the losses experienced to yield, and I think these are soybeans
• There's some room to have a discussion there, but in particular it's hard when you're talking about a soybean
• field, 40 acres of soybeans destroyed overnight by an elk.
• I get that there's conversation to be had around that, but as far as fencing and, in a soybean crop for

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• Crops grown on the farm include corn, wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa.
• Crops grown on the farm include corn, wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa.
• Crops grown on the farm include corn, wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we've had a great partnership with Minnesota Soybean in terms of looking at different products
• , from anything from rejuvenance for asphalt to looking at soybean meal-based fertilizers for higher-value
• see um what can we do in addition<01:35:41.840> to<01:35:42.639> uh<01:35:42.800> soybeans
• addition to uh soybeans, corn, right? addition to uh soybeans, corn, right?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Her summers were spent at her family's Minnesota farm, helping with the corn, potato, and soybean crops
• China retaliated and put 25% tariffs on soybeans, fruits, pork, and some other items.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a fourth-generation farmer where we farm corn and soybeans.
• I live in Hampton, which is in Southern Dakota County, where my family farms beef cattle, corn, soybeans
• I think the example would be more like the dry beans or, you know, if there were some soybeans or if
• widely available, cost effective, and efficacious for fall weed control applications to both corn and soybeans

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota is a leader in the nation's production of soybeans, corn, peas, oats, and other crops that
• leader in the nation's<01:08:00.559> production<01:08:00.920> of<01:08:01.079> soybeans
• <01:08:01.760> corn nation's production of soybeans corn nation's production of soybeans corn

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the GreenSeam; more soybeans are processed in Mankato than any other city in North America. proceed
• our economy we are the green<00:09:16.880> seam<00:09:17.560> more<00:09:17.800> soybeans
• <00:09:18.360> are<00:09:18.560> processed green seam more soybeans are processed green
• seam more soybeans are processed in<00:09:19.040> Mano<00:09:19.600> than<00:09:19.800

Bills: HF1976

Keywords: paid leave, family leave, employment law, Minnesota statute, benefit eligibility, seasonal employment, workforce, labor rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Charlie Radman, and I operate a corn and soybean farm near Randolph, Minnesota.
• 33.080> and Charlie radman and I operate a corn and Charlie radman and I operate a corn and soybean
• > near<01:19:34.199> Randolph<01:19:34.800> Minnesota<01:19:35.800> I soybean
• farm near Randolph Minnesota I soybean farm near Randolph Minnesota I also<01:19:36.199> proudly<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not only corn and soybeans.
• 00:48:39.200> corn<00:48:39.440> and it's not only corn and it's not only corn and soybeans
• :41.559> an<00:48:41.720> amazing<00:48:42.119> mix<00:48:42.319> of soybeans
• uh we have an amazing mix of soybeans uh we have an amazing mix of farmers<00:48:42.880> and<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also ranks as the top second top provider of ye nationally and is one of the highest producers of soybeans

Bills: HB2268, HB3000, HB3043, HB3066, HB3078, HB3143, HB3144, HB3244, HB3298, HB3320, HB3467, HB3321, HB3329, HB3431, HB3464, HB3499, HB3500, HB3586, HB3590, HB3650, HB3671, HB3695, HB3700, HB3701, HB3764, HB3767, HB3834, HB3931, HB3934, HB3940, HB3944, HB3979, HB3985, HB4113, HB4294, HB4302, HB4317, HB4324, HB4359, HB4426, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4434, HJR1077, SR42, SR35, HJR1023, HB1225, HB1374, HB1381, HB1590, HB1675, HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering