Transcript Highlights:

• you're going to be getting into grain you're going to be getting into grain farming,<00:44:32.079
• The next bill is House File 3549, which is the grain indemnity account.
• What this bill does is try to safeguard the money that's in the grain indemnity account that was created
• Representative Vang said the grain indemnity fund is important because it supports farmers and creates
• a safety net for grain farmers.

Bills: HF3508, HF3548, HF3549

Keywords: dairy assistance, agriculture, investment, relief initiative, farm support, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, 1183, house

Bills: HF1621, HF1701, HF1796, HF1676, HF40, HF1428, HF1540

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

Transcript Highlights:

• first talking about uh the grain first talking about uh the grain Indemnity<01:15:59.400> fund
• <01:26:05.960> the grain Indemnity fund and and the grain Indemnity fund and and the reporting
• <01:26:48.159> Indemnity<01:26:49.000> fund getting the grain Indemnity fund getting
• so continuing on here um the grain so continuing on here um the grain Indemnity<01:26:58.639>
• I think I heard something to do with the indemnity grain language, and I'm curious if that's so.

Bills: HF1063

Keywords: grain buyers, grain dealer, grain elevator, agriculture, financial reporting, audit, CPA review, independent accountant, financial statement, balance sheet, cash flow, nonpublic data, licensee oversight, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, grain purchase volume, insolvency, nonpayment, warehouse chain, fiduciary duties, producer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• The grain indemnity fund is the grain indemnity fund, and nothing that we do in this bill today prevents
• The grain indemnity fund is the grain indemnity fund, and nothing that we do in this bill today prevents
• says, "Yep, this is indeed the grain says, "Yep, this is indeed the grain indemnity<00:26:05.279
• The grain indemnity fund is the have.
• The grain indemnity fund is the grain<00:26:18.080> indemnity<00:26:18.640> fund<00:26:

Bills: HF3579, HF3549, HF3548, HF4388, HF3566

Keywords: eggs, donation, quality assurance, food assistance, charitable programs, agriculture, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, rotational grazing, grazing management, livestock, pasture management, soil health, erosion control

Transcript Highlights:

• Likewise, on our grain fees that we had talked about, those changes and that fee structure—pricing has
• shown promising results for decreasing the application of synthetic fertilizer and introducing small grains

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:

• Likewise on our grain fees that we had talked about, those changes and that fee structure and that pricing
• Uh likewise on our grain<00:04:53.680> fees<00:04:54.560> um<00:04:54.720> that<
• 04:54.960> we<00:04:55.199> had<00:04:55.440> had<00:04:55.680> talked grain
• fees um that we had had talked grain fees um that we had had talked about<00:04:56.720> uh<00
• back to the introducing small grains back to the landscape.<00:12:46.800> Um,<00:12:47.440>

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:

• > seeds heritage oil seeds heritage oil seeds um<00:24:06.080> and<00:24:06.480> grains
• provision<00:24:07.280> that<00:24:07.600> was<00:24:07.760> carried um and grains
• provision that was carried um and grains provision that was carried in<00:24:08.240> representative

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

Bills: HB 220, HB 783, HB 2240, HB 3336, HB 4202, HB 4449, HB 4904, HB 3441, HB 4284

Keywords: sexual assault, healthcare facilities, forensic examination, survivor support, emergency contraceptive, online impersonation, civil liability, social media, identity theft, defamation, counseling damages, injunctive relief, public health, safety regulations, community health, state standards, healthcare access, HB 3336, alcoholic beverage tax credit, spent grain

Bills: HB220, HB783, HB2240, HB3336, HB4202, HB4449, HB4904, HB3441, HB4284

Keywords: sexual assault, healthcare facilities, forensic examination, survivor support, emergency contraceptive, online impersonation, civil liability, social media, identity theft, defamation, counseling damages, injunctive relief, public health, safety regulations, community health, state standards, healthcare access, HB 3336, alcoholic beverage tax credit, spent grain

Transcript Highlights:

• , called spent grain, to farmers and ranchers for use as animal feed or compost.
• Spent grain is a high-protein byproduct left after brewing or distilling.
• Spent grain can be used as a low-cost, high-quality feed source, especially for cattle.
• Donating the grain is not free for us as brewers. It doesn't.
• Okay, and what they're doing is they're selling their grain. They're not donating it.

Bills: HB220, HB783, HB2240, HB3336, HB4202, HB4449, HB4904, HB3441, HB4284

Keywords: sexual assault, healthcare facilities, forensic examination, survivor support, emergency contraceptive, online impersonation, civil liability, social media, identity theft, defamation, counseling damages, injunctive relief, public health, safety regulations, community health, state standards, healthcare access, HB 3336, alcoholic beverage tax credit, spent grain

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, it removes the requirement that grain inspector license applicants furnish satisfactory evidence

Bills: SB311, HB371

Keywords: pesticide, licensing, agriculture, landscaper, grain inspector, record keeping, Delaware agriculture, certified applicators, regulatory compliance, HB371, Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Act, farmland preservation, agricultural lands, agricultural preservation district, Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, county advisory board, Delaware Foundation, Department of Agriculture, DNREC, planning and zoning

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 53 would codify and continue the Farm to Community Program if federal support is reduced or unavailable, prioritize Delaware farmers, and require reporting and transparency. Testimony in support came from the Delaware Farm Bureau, the Academy of Medicine and Public Health, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jimmy Crone, who said the department supports the bill. Members raised no questions, and the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. The committee then heard Senate Bill 311, a Department of Agriculture maintenance bill updating Title 3 provisions related to plant industry and pesticides. The bill removes an outdated $100 license fee, requires certified private applicators to keep pesticide application records available for inspection, expands the definition of landscaper to include commercial entities installing their own nursery stock, and removes a good-character requirement for grain inspector applicants. With no public comment or questions, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. Finally, House Bill 371, sponsored by Representative Vanderwyn, would streamline the Agland Preservation Act by eliminating a redundant county advisory board step for farmland preservation districts. Representative Vanderwyn and Deputy Secretary Crone explained that the advisory boards were more useful when the program was new, but now the county planning and zoning commissions and the Department of Agriculture already provide the needed review. After brief discussion, with no public comment, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• counties, providing them not only with local fresh produce but also other Minnesota-grown things such as grains
• c><00:48:37.319> things<00:48:37.880> such<00:48:38.079> as<00:48:38.280> grains
• Minnesota grown things such as grains Minnesota grown things such as grains Beef<00:48:40.000>

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 uh again, the purpose of the bill is to uh make sure the money in the grain indemnity fund stays
• this is the grain indemnity fund, and I this is the grain indemnity fund, and I think<00:10:34.000>
• says, "Yep, this is indeed the grain says, "Yep, this is indeed the grain indemnity<00:10:48.399
• > the The grain indemnity fund is the grain indemnity fund, and nothing that we do in this bill today
• The grain indemnity fund is the... The fund was created with general fund dollars.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Cha, I want to thank you for the grain indemnity work that we did last year.
• <00:57:28.160> grain<00:57:28.480> indemnity<00:57:29.200> work<00:57:29.440
• > that for the grain grain indemnity work that for the grain grain indemnity work that we<00:57
• <00:57:50.560> indemnity<00:57:51.080> bill because of the the grain indemnity bill
• because of the the grain indemnity bill that<00:57:51.440> you<00:57:51.560> did<00:57

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• To spend on the high end for these smaller grain elevators.
• However, we did create a $10 million indemnity fund.
• Cleavorn said we set up a publicly funded indemnity fund.
• Representative Chau, I want to thank you for the grain indemnity work that we did last year.
• They have the ability, in large part, because of the grain indemnity bill that you did last year.

Bills: SB337, HB520, HB75, SB337, HB520, HB75

Keywords: SB337, Montgomery County, probate judge, judge of probate, county officer compensation, salary increase, circuit judge parity, local legislation, county commission, general fund, public official pay, judicial compensation, Montgomery County Legislation, discrimination, immunization, facial coverings, healthcare rights, religious convictions, civil rights, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• This is known as the Grain Indemnity Act.
• Creates a voluntary program that the grain producer must opt into to be a part of.
• <00:04:14.280> Indemnity This is known as the Grain Indemnity This is known as the Grain Indemnity
• elevators across the nation or grain elevators across the nation or grain buying<00:05:14.840>
• It was a grain broker. Any further discussion questions? I move the sufficient do pass.

Keywords: Agriculture - Room 210, 27 February, 2026; 11:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee took up three House bills. House Bill 933 was briefly explained as a short bill allowing Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau agents to retain their sidearms upon retirement. The committee asked no substantive questions, adopted a motion that the title was sufficient, and passed the bill. House Bill 1153, a follow-up to last year’s meat labeling law, was described as clarifying enforcement language and adding cell-cultured deer products. The committee adopted an amendment to specify that a food product is not misbranded and another amendment to strike a special fund reference and replace it with the general fund. Senator McConnell then proposed and secured adoption of an amendment removing language that would have allowed the department to hire outside counsel if the attorney general declined representation. The bill, as amended, was then passed. House Bill 1647, the Grain Indemnity Act, was presented as a voluntary producer opt-in program modeled on similar laws in other states to provide funds in the event of a grain buyer bankruptcy. Senators asked about startup funding and whether insurance or bonding could serve a similar purpose; the sponsor said no funds were included in the bill and noted that insurance coverage may not be available. After discussion, the committee moved the bill as title sufficient and reported it out.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now moving on with the grain indemnity account update there.
• back into the indemnity account and go back into the indemnity account and so<00:18:59.200> uh
• <00:19:03.520> there grain there grain there >> and<00:19:04.559> I<00:19:04.799>
• So our indemnity count, the way I read it, and our interpretation is that the indemnity count covers
• sold<00:19:54.880> in indemnity count covers grains sold in indemnity count covers grains

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture presented an overview of its budget, staffing, and major program areas, including protection services, marketing, and administration. Commissioners also highlighted concerns about federal funding uncertainty after a January letter suspending active and future USDA awards to the department. They said the issue affected about 13% of the agency’s budget, created confusion for farmers, and briefly disrupted poultry lab testing and HPAI-related work, though they later received assurances from USDA leadership that existing programs would continue processing. The department also described its anti-fraud efforts, including internal controls, a compliance coordinator, a grants administrator, review committees, site visits, and participation in the state’s Inspector General Coordinating Council. The committee then discussed several agriculture support programs. For dairy margin coverage, the department said Minnesota’s sign-up is open and supported a bill to extend assistance to farmers who began operations in 2023-2025 and were not covered under the earlier production-based formula. The renamed Farm to Food Security program, formerly LFPA, was described as a state-created local food purchasing effort funded at $700,000 per year. The down payment assistance grant for first-time farm buyers was also reviewed; the department said it has supported 112 farmers so far, with additional awards pending, but noted timing problems when purchase agreements fall through. Members asked whether priority should be given to applicants with signed purchase agreements, and the department said that was under consideration. The grain indemnity account update focused on the Hansen-Mueller facility failure and related claims. The department said the account holds about $10.7 million, has received 19 claims totaling $1.1 million, and that $842,000 of those claims were tied specifically to Minnesota transactions. It explained the difference by noting that some claims involved Minnesota farmers selling in North Dakota and Wisconsin, and that the indemnity account covers grains sold in Minnesota. The committee also heard updates on elk and wolf depredation payments, with the department projecting shortfalls in both funds and noting that payments are being delayed into later months. The agriculture response fund balance was said to be about $2.5 million. Finally, the Rural Finance Authority and the East Grand Forks potato facility were discussed. The RFA reported strong demand for low-interest loans, about $26 million remaining from the prior $50 million authorization, and a new $50 million bonding request in the governor’s proposal to avoid a funding gap. The department said the program has issued 3,951 loans totaling about $390.3 million with very low defaults. It also requested $1.38 million in bonding for building improvements at the East Grand Forks potato facility, which it said is the department’s only owned building and supports a significant potato industry. In response to a question from Rep. Bang, the commissioner said recent ICE activity had affected farms, processing plants, immigrant workers, and some rural food businesses, and that the department had relayed those concerns to the governor’s office and congressional delegation.

Transcript Highlights:

• department had been looking to increase fees in a couple of areas, including food handler fees and grain

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:

• They were looking to increase fees in a couple areas: food handler fees and also in the grain inspection

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