Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee
Monday, March 23, 2026
Present: Senator Aric Putnam - Chair, Senator Robert J. Kupec - Vice Chair, Senator Torrey N. Westrom - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Gary H. Dahms, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Judy Seeberger
Absent: No Members Absent
3:00 PM, 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Minutes
Present: Senator Aric Putnam - Chair, Senator Robert J. Kupec - Vice Chair, Senator Torrey N. Westrom - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Gary H. Dahms, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Judy Seeberger
Absent: No Members Absent
Senator Aric Putnam called the meeting to order at 3:11pm
Greet Farm Bureau LeadAg Institute
Testifiers: Brianne Arneson, Jessie Bester, Jay Sohre, Ellie Trout, Traci Walkowski, Joshua Yates
Testifiers: Brianne Arneson, Jessie Bester, Jay Sohre, Ellie Trout, Traci Walkowski, Joshua Yates
S.F. 4160: Senator Hoffman: Prohibit the sale and use of paraquat dichloride.
Testifiers: Roberta Niver (Patient Advocate), Lisa Erikson (Patient Advocate), Mark Kelm (Patient Advocate), Lynn Johnson (Patient Advocate), Grant Niver (MJFF), Grant Cope (Subject matter expert), Lee Helgen – Executive Director, Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, TJ Kartes, Saddle Butte Ag, Thom Petersen – Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Joshua Stamper – Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division Director
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4160, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Roberta Niver (Patient Advocate), Lisa Erikson (Patient Advocate), Mark Kelm (Patient Advocate), Lynn Johnson (Patient Advocate), Grant Niver (MJFF), Grant Cope (Subject matter expert), Lee Helgen – Executive Director, Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, TJ Kartes, Saddle Butte Ag, Thom Petersen – Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Joshua Stamper – Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division Director
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4160, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 4561: Senator Putnam: Agriculture policy provisions modifications.
***Gavel changed at 3:55pm to Senator Kupec*** Testifiers: Anthony Cordilet – Plant Protection, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Jeff Luedeman – Director of Food & Feed Safety, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Senator Kupec moved that S.F. 4561, be laid over. - MOTION PREVAILED.
***Gavel changed at 3:55pm to Senator Kupec*** Testifiers: Anthony Cordilet – Plant Protection, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Jeff Luedeman – Director of Food & Feed Safety, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Senator Kupec moved that S.F. 4561, be laid over. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 4586: Senator Putnam: Farm down payment assistance eligibility modification.
Testifiers: Stu Lourey – Government Relations, Minnesota Farmers Union, Elyssa Eull, Owner, California Street Farm, Laura Schreiber – Government Relations Director, Land Stewardship Project
Senator Kupec moved that S.F. 4586, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Stu Lourey – Government Relations, Minnesota Farmers Union, Elyssa Eull, Owner, California Street Farm, Laura Schreiber – Government Relations Director, Land Stewardship Project
Senator Kupec moved that S.F. 4586, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 3864: Senator Kunesh: Laws 2025, Chapter 34, article 1, section 2, subdivisions 1,3 as amended modifications and previous appropriation modifications.
*** Gavel changed to Senator Putnam at 4:26pm*** Testifiers: Mary Metelak – Co-owner and Business manager – Benson + Turner Foods, Waubun, Minnesota Farmers Union (Remote), April LeDoux – Director of Distributive Services for Chum Food Shelf in Duluth (Remote), Nura Ahmed – Coordinator, Feeding Frogtown
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 3864, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
*** Gavel changed to Senator Putnam at 4:26pm*** Testifiers: Mary Metelak – Co-owner and Business manager – Benson + Turner Foods, Waubun, Minnesota Farmers Union (Remote), April LeDoux – Director of Distributive Services for Chum Food Shelf in Duluth (Remote), Nura Ahmed – Coordinator, Feeding Frogtown
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 3864, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 4066: Senator Gustafson: Minnesota grown account transfer increase provision.
Testifiers: Sam Birkholz – Pleasant Valley Orchard – Minnesota Apple Growers Association, Minnesota Farmers Union, Kathy Zeman – Director, Minnesota Farmers Market Association (Remote)
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4066, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Sam Birkholz – Pleasant Valley Orchard – Minnesota Apple Growers Association, Minnesota Farmers Union, Kathy Zeman – Director, Minnesota Farmers Market Association (Remote)
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4066, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 2431: Senator Kupec: Agricultural land trends report requirement provision and appropriation.
Testifiers: Alex Trunnell - Public Policy Manager, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Melany Thomas – Felton, MN, Minnesota Farmers Union, Taylor Olsen, Beginning Farmer, Taylors Falls, Thom Petersen – Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Senator Kupec moves A-3 amendment. Amendment adopted.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2431, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Alex Trunnell - Public Policy Manager, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Melany Thomas – Felton, MN, Minnesota Farmers Union, Taylor Olsen, Beginning Farmer, Taylors Falls, Thom Petersen – Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Senator Kupec moves A-3 amendment. Amendment adopted.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 2431, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:09pm
|
Senator Aric Putnam, Chair |
Keely Spens, Legislative Assistant |