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Committee Home  |  Events  |  Meeting Agendas & Summaries  |  Resources  |  Roster MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Meeting Agendas & Summaries Energy and Agriculture & Natural Resources Committees Joint Renewable Fuels Session Saturday, July 12, 2008 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rushmore Plaza Civic Center ~ Rapid City, South Dakota Agenda Presiding: MLC Energy Committee Co-Chair, Sen. Deb Fischer, Nebraska; MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Co-Chairs, Rep. Al Juhnke, Minnesota, and Representative Rich Myers, Illinois Biofuels: Where to Now? Moderator: Senator Ellen Anderson (MN) A Perspective on the Current State of Biofuels: Dr. Wally Tyner, Purdue University The Reality of Future Promises: Suzanne Hunt, Independent Consultant Current and Future State Policy Options: Brendan Jordan, Program Manager, The Great Plains Institute Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Sunday, July 13, 2008 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rushmore Plaza Civic Center ~ Rapid City, South Dakota Update on Washington: Dr. Otto Doering, Purdue University The Changing Regulatory Climate for Agriculture Producers Moderator Steve Dick, AgUnited for South Dakota Panelist Gary Baise, Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP Panelist Barb Glenn, Biotechnology Industry Organization Infrastructure needs for biofuels Pat Ptacek, Nebraska Feed and Grain Association Ron Lamberty, American Coalition for Energy 2007 Annual Meeting The 2007 Annual Meeting of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee took place during the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference, held August 26-29 in Traverse City, Michigan.  Click here for the meeting agenda.   Below are summaries of this year's committee meeting topics and presentations.   Making the Most of Renewable Fuels: State Strategies for the Future In this joint session with two other MLC committees, lawmakers explored ways in which states are facilitating renewable energy production and use, as well as how the Midwest can work together to maximize opportunities in this policy area.   Four specific topic areas were examined with the help of four expert speakers, whose presentations can be accessed below.   Minnesota NextGen Energy Board Commissioner Gene Hugoson, Minnesota Department of Agriculture   North Central BioEconomy Consortium Gary Radloff, Director, Policy and Communications, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection   Public/Private Partnerships in Indiana Brandon Seitz, Manager, Energy Division, Indiana Office of Energy and Defense Development   State Renewable Energy Initiatives and Economic Development David Swenson, Associate Scientist, Department of Economics, Iowa State University   Update on the Farm Bill, World Trade Organization and Country of Origin Labeling The committee reviewed the status of the 2007 farm bill, with a specific look at the version already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. It also examined the the role of agriculture in the World Trade Organization and the impact of country-of-origin-labeling legislation on the states. David Schweikhardt, a professor in the Department of Agriculture Economics at Michigan State University, helped lead this part of the committee meeting.     Agriculture Research in the States Another focus of the committee meeting was agriculture research funding. Discussion centered on the fact that funding for food, agriculture and natural resources research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has grown at an average annual rate of just 1.85% over the last 35 years. The committee then adopted a resolution supporting CREATE-21, a proposal developed by the land grant universities to increase funding and reduce redundancy in agriculture research. Mr. Jeff Armstrong, Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University    Resolutions Approved by the Committee and Passed by the MLC Resolution In Support of Increased Agriculture Research Funding Resolution on Commodity Income Stabilization and Farm Risk Management Programs Resolution on Interstate Sale of State Inspected Meats Resolution on Farm Bill Conservation Legislation Resolution on Bee Colony Collapse Disorder Resolution on Biofuel Development Resolution on the Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act Resolution on Rural Development Resolution of Support for U.S. Horse Processing Resolution  Supporting Community-Based Energy Development     Monday August 27, 2007   Breakfast Table Topic Discussion: State Laws and Regulations Impacting Animal Agriculture Facilitated by Sen. Robert N. Jackman, Indiana   Animal agriculture is under continuing pressure from animal rights activists and increasingly stringent facility-siting legislation.  One high-profile issue of late has been a ban on horse processing, as well as the unintended consequences of it.  This topic and other issues impacting animal agriculture in the Midwest were discussed during a breakfast discussion of MLC legislators.  Attendees developed two resolutions, one in support of the continued processing of horses and one related to the shortage of veterinarians.  Both resolutions were passed by the MLC.   Tuesday, August 28, 2007   Breakfast Table Topic Discussion: What States Can Do to Enhance  Community-Based Wind-Power Development Facilitated by Sen. Jack Kibbie, Iowa, and Sen. Frank Kloucek, South Dakota   This session focused on the economic and environmental benefits of community-based wind power.  Community-based wind power projects can help keep more dollars in the area where the energy is being produced.  Attendees developed a resolution supporting community-based energy development that was passed by the MLC.   July 2005 Meeting At its inaugural meeting – which was held July 31, 2005, in Regina, Saskatchewan – the MLC Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard from three experts on agriculture policy, took part in roundtable discussions on the 2007 farm bill and international trade, and passed six resolutions that ultimately were approved by the full MLC. The meeting agenda is available here. Discussions on the farm bill began with a presentation by David Schweikhardt, an agricultural economist at Michigan State University. He focused on key forces that could shape negotiations over the bill: federal budget deficits, recent World Trade Organization rulings and upcoming WTO talks, concerns about obesity and its possible link to U.S. agricultural subsidies, and the devolution of farm policy to the states. Schweikhardt also gave a presentation on upcoming WTO negotiations. In addition, professor Kurt Klein of Lethbridge University provided an overview on the causes and impact of key agricultural trade disputes involving the United States and Canada. Finally, Florida University professor Andrew Schmitz gave a talk in which he compared and contrasted U.S. and Canadian agricultural policies.   For more information, contact: Carolyn Orr last updated: July 21, 2008

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