Transcript Highlights:

• It supports rural farming, beginning and established farmers.
• beginning and established Farmers<00:02:01.960> it<00:02:02.399> uh<00:02:02.520> supports
• Second, to support funding and pathways for land access, especially for new and beginning farmers, as
• , and I know many farmers that go through LSP's Farm Beginnings course take full advantage of the offering
• farmers can count on and some farmers farmers can count on and some farmers are<00:43:22.839>

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• does not think anything in the bill addresses how the state can be the safety net for farmers.
• She said the bill falls short of meeting the needs of farmers today.
• can be the safety net for farmers.
• on small business and farmers.
• putting on small business and Farmers putting on small business and Farmers sick<00:53:46.920>

Bills: HF1704, HF2052

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a farmer from Ogilvie, Kanabec County.
• For sure, we are farmers, and we need you as a House to help us.
• This enables me to think now, I am a farmer.
• uh this year I'm so proud of a farmer uh this year I'm so proud of a farmer<00:45:18.280> telling
• succeed my parents who are Dairy Farmers succeed my parents who are Dairy Farmers face<01:03:32.079

Bills: HF44, HF2102, HF2279, HF2280, HF2281

Keywords: HF44, Casey Jones State Trail, Pipestone Trailhead, Currie Loop, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, trail rehabilitation, trail reconstruction, recreational trail, bike trail, hiking trail, infrastructure, state trail, Pipestone, Currie, bonding authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• and during the fiscal year beginning and during the fiscal year beginning July<00:06:18.520>
• That's the reality of what ranchers and farmers and wool growers face now in the state of Colorado.
• were lazy, nasty ranchers and farmers were lazy, nasty people<00:16:36.600> who<00:16:36.839>
• Why do you think I read the God Made a Farmer poem up here every year?
• And it raised concerns at farmers and ranchers that said, "Well, now this is in my district.

Keywords: Continuation of today's legislative session, beginning at 7:45 pm., 981, all

Summary: The House took up House Bill 1410, the state’s long appropriations bill for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and their agencies and institutions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The committee first recessed and then adopted a motion to rise, report progress, and sit again later that day. The House also adopted a motion under House Rule 14 to limit debate on House Bill 1410 to one hour during special orders on April 10, 2026, by a vote of 40-20, with four excused and one absent. During consideration of House Bill 1410, members debated Amendment J82/54A, which would require funding for wolf reintroduction to come from gifts, grants, and donations rather than general fund dollars. Supporters argued the state should not use taxpayer money for additional wolf reintroduction, especially during a budget crisis, and said rural ranchers and livestock producers are bearing the costs and impacts of wolves. They emphasized depredation concerns, the strain on rural communities, and the view that the reintroduction effort has been costly and poorly managed. Opponents of the amendment said the funding line is part of broader wolf management, not just reintroduction, and argued the state has a legal obligation to carry out Proposition 114. They said gifts, grants, and donations are not a reliable funding source for that mandate and noted the program also supports conflict minimization efforts such as range riders. One speaker also defended the ecological role of wolves, citing their benefits to ecosystems, elk management, and biodiversity. The transcript does not show a final vote on the amendment before the excerpt ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:32.240> or member council who are either farmers or member council who are either farmers
• determine the best use of these farmer determine the best use of these farmer collected<00:48:48.800
• First witness: Stu Lori, Minnesota Farmers Union.
• >> Uh first uh Stu Lori Minnesota Farmers >> Uh first uh Stu Lori Minnesota Farmers
• director for Minnesota Farmers Union. director for Minnesota Farmers Union.

Bills: HF3898, HF3957, HF4372, HF4350, HF3692, HF4085

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, a policy change that we think could be especially helpful for beginning farmers and operators is
• My name is Derek Ellis, and I am a farmer in North Minneapolis and a member of the Midwest Farmers of
• and emerging farmers like myself can get access to land.
• and emerging farmers.
• I want to make a comment on the beginning farmer tax credit.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• As we continue to look into supporting the next generation of farmers, I think it would be helpful to
• Oftentimes, barriers to entry for new and beginning farmers are first, land access, and then second,
• The beginning farmer loan is already a great resource for many of these new and beginning farmers.
• This was allocated last biennium for dairy farmers in hopes of Congress passing a farm bill.
• But the idea behind this policy change is to introduce a new market for our most vulnerable farmers.

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the beginning farmer loan is already a great resource for many of these new and beginning farmers
• And so the beginning farmer loan is already a great resource for many of these new and beginning farmers
• > land and beginning farmers are first land and beginning farmers are first land access<00:01:23.680
• And so the beginning farmer capital.
• many of these new and beginning farmers. many of these new and beginning farmers.

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• Farmers uh who employ just a few workers Farmers uh who employ just a few workers up<00:11:48.279>
• we I I created the emerging Farmers we I I created the emerging Farmers office<00:20:35.760>
• and brown farmers.
• made better relationships with farmers made better relationships with farmers who<00:21:27.640><
• <00:21:29.120> who who have been left behind farmers who who have been left behind farmers

Bills: HF1704, HF1722

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, a policy change that we think could be especially helpful for beginning farmers and operators,
• and emerging farmers.
• He then said he heard from a young farmer from back home in his area who had used the beginning farmer
• He then said he heard from a young farmer from back home in his area who had used the beginning farmer
• <00:48:40.800> farmer uh a comment on the uh beginning farmer uh a comment on the uh beginning

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

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you'll see on the bottom of the page, beginning on line 401, this is an Agri detail breakdown
• The bottom of the page, beginning on line 401, is an Agri detail breakdown in terms of each individual
• Paragraph F is for the emerging farmers office. G is the operating increase.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Robert Pence farmer. I'm in >> Aloha. Robert Pence farmer.
• Hunter Heavlin, Hawaii Farmers<00:37:40.079> Union. Farmers Union. Farmers Union.
• farmer will help the legitimate farmers farmer will help the legitimate farmers and<00:45:26.880
• small farmers. small farmers.
• We think this will support small farmers, should support all farmers, should support all bona fide farmers

Bills: SB874, SB2097, SB2098, SB2126, SB2154, SB2153, SB2160, SB2123, SB2110

Keywords: veterinary medicine, prescription, consumer rights, transparency, pet medication, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, food system resilience, grant program, Hawaii agriculture, agriculture, clean plant program, disease-free plants, plant propagation, small farms, midsize farms, sustainable farming, Hawaii, data analysis, market study

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• of farmers markets and farm stands do just that.
• Because that's not what happens when our farmers sell eggs.
• All we are asking is to treat small farmers who are selling their ungraded eggs at the farmers market
• And that is why our farmers don't want to become graded.
• It's a roadblock that stops many before they can even begin.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• And and actually a young farmer also a beginning farmer, right?
• Specifically regarding our young beginning farmers.
• So that is one way that we work with our young beginning small farmers.
• Both for established, but particularly for new farmers, beginning farmers.
• farmers to begin farming and to stay in farming?

Keywords: farm bill, rural economy, crop insurance, access to credit, young farmers, USDA funding freeze, agricultural policy, risk management

Summary: The meeting of the agricultural committee focused on significant concerns regarding the current state of America's rural economy, highlighting the need for a strong five-year farm bill to address the challenges faced by farmers, particularly young and beginning farmers. Key testimony was given by multiple stakeholders including agricultural leaders and young farmers, emphasizing issues related to crop insurance, access to credit, and the adverse impact of recent USDA funding freezes. Various members discussed the necessity of risk management tools that farmers rely on to secure financing, which is crucial for sustaining agricultural operations and supporting rural communities. The importance of timely legislative action was underscored, as many farmers reported struggles in the current economic climate, raising urgency for reforms within the Farm Bill framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• see some of your rural community action agencies will go through money a little bit faster at the beginning
• expensive from our budget to allow EEC to go ahead and do, but there are some that we would like to begin
• would<00:37:01.520> like<00:37:01.800> to<00:37:02.120> to<00:37:02.360> begin
• that that we would like to to begin that that we would like to to begin doing<00:37:02.960> for

Bills: SB8

Keywords: utilities, public service commission, energy regulation, appointment, emergency declaration, tax increases, consumer protection, The first couple minutes of the livestream was cut off. This recording restored the beginning of the meeting Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:51 Approval of Minutes 00:02:07 Legislator Comments 00:02:18 LIHEAP Public Hearing 00:04:19 PSC Update on RS 26 SB 8 00:32:18 WaterStep Presentation 01:04:08, 958, all

Bills: HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, nuisance birds, local governance, regulation, outdoor activities, public safety, Rio Grande, vegetation management, border security, environmental regulation, Carrizo cane

Transcript Highlights:

• called the Biofertilizer Innovation and Efficiency Program, which he said is a proactive way for farmers
• farm to food uh directly from farmers farm to food uh that<00:31:44.880> the<00:31:45.120>
• Our farmers and our schools greatly depend on that, and with the dramatic cuts to that program by the
• <00:38:01.760> schools<00:38:02.480> greatly Um, our farmers and our schools greatly
• Um, our farmers and our schools greatly depend<00:38:03.280> on<00:38:03.440> that<00:

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

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

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:58.959> to to me is a proactive way for farmers to to me is a proactive way for farmers
• <00:32:50.399> in and this association serves farmers in and this association serves farmers
• To begin with, this division funds two different agencies.
• I'll begin Deble from House Research.
• <00:54:57.440> on Sections uh 10 and 11, which begin on Sections uh 10 and 11, which begin

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

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

Transcript Highlights:

• To begin with, this division funds two different agencies.
• To begin with, um change from the base.
• And I'll begin on line 14 or 15 of the change item spreadsheet.
• I'll begin with a discussion of Article 2 of the bill, which starts on page 10.
• Laos sections uh 10 and 11 which begin Laos sections uh 10 and 11 which begin on<00:10:39.600>

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

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

Transcript Highlights:

• farmers.
• farmers.
• Key takeaways: it's a great program for farmers, great farmer engagement.
• Key takeaways: it's a great program for farmers, great farmer engagement.
• > group Byron farmer byon area Farmers group Byron farmer byon area Farmers group voluntarily<01:

Bills: HF2446, HF2878, HF2667, HF1795, HF2683, HF2916

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