Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee
Wednesday, February 25, 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 3:06pm
Dairy Day at the Capitol Presentation
Testifiers: Garrett Luthens, Hutchinson – Minnesota Milk President, Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Bucks Unlimited, Goodhue, Ann, Dave, Chris, and DJ Buck – Minnesota Milk Producers of the Year, Emily Mollenhauer, director, Minnesota Dairy Initiative
Testifiers: Garrett Luthens, Hutchinson – Minnesota Milk President, Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Bucks Unlimited, Goodhue, Ann, Dave, Chris, and DJ Buck – Minnesota Milk Producers of the Year, Emily Mollenhauer, director, Minnesota Dairy Initiative
S.F. 3832: Senator Kupec: Eligibility for the Dairy Assisstance, Investment, Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program modification.
Testifiers: Hunter Pederson, Public Policy Specialist – Minnesota Farm Bureau, Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Emily Mollenhauer, Director – Minnesota Dairy Initiative
Senator Seeberger moved that S.F. 3832, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Hunter Pederson, Public Policy Specialist – Minnesota Farm Bureau, Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Emily Mollenhauer, Director – Minnesota Dairy Initiative
Senator Seeberger moved that S.F. 3832, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Update on Forever Green and Continuous Living Cover Programs
Testifiers: Dr. Mitch Hunter – Co-Director, Forever Green Initiative, Colin Cureton – Director of Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling, Forever Green Initiative, Peter Frosch – CEO, Greater MSP, Paul Novotny – Farmer, founder of MSX Nexgen, Inc
Testifiers: Dr. Mitch Hunter – Co-Director, Forever Green Initiative, Colin Cureton – Director of Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling, Forever Green Initiative, Peter Frosch – CEO, Greater MSP, Paul Novotny – Farmer, founder of MSX Nexgen, Inc
S.F. 3687: Senator Westrom: National school lunch program participants milk offerings clarification provision.
- Testifiers: Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Brenda Rudolph, Raising a Farmer – Minnesota Farmers Union, Hunter Pederson, Public Policy Specialist – Minnesota Farm Bureau
Senator Westrom moved that S.F. 3687, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Education Policy Committee. - MOTION PREVAILED.
- Testifiers: Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Brenda Rudolph, Raising a Farmer – Minnesota Farmers Union, Hunter Pederson, Public Policy Specialist – Minnesota Farm Bureau
Senator Westrom moved that S.F. 3687, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Education Policy Committee. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 3686: Senator Westrom: Rotational grazing pilot program establishment and appropriation.
Testifiers: Rachel Gray, President-elect, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Josh VanDerPol, Pastures A Plenty Farm and Co, Kerkhoven, MN – Minnesota Farmers Union, Laura Schreiber, Government Relations Director – Land Stewardship Project, Hunter Pederson, Public Policy Specialist – Minnesota Farm Bureau, Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Eric Heines – Livestock Producer Senator Westrom moves A-1 amendment, amendment adopted
Senator Westrom moved that S.F. 3686, as amended and referred to the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee without recommendation. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Rachel Gray, President-elect, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Josh VanDerPol, Pastures A Plenty Farm and Co, Kerkhoven, MN – Minnesota Farmers Union, Laura Schreiber, Government Relations Director – Land Stewardship Project, Hunter Pederson, Public Policy Specialist – Minnesota Farm Bureau, Lucas Sjostrom, Brooten – Minnesota Milk Executive Director, Eric Heines – Livestock Producer Senator Westrom moves A-1 amendment, amendment adopted
Senator Westrom moved that S.F. 3686, as amended and referred to the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee without recommendation. - MOTION PREVAILED.
MPCA Update on Feedlot Rulemaking Process
Postponed
Postponed
The meeting was adjourned at 5:03pm
|
Senator Aric Putnam, Chair |
Keely Spens, Legislative Assistant |