Senate Committee on Agriculture

AGENDA

Room 28 and Zoom

February 14, 2023 - February 17, 2023

Last Updated 2/17/2023 10:30 AM

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-agriculture.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

15 minutes after Senate adjourns                   Climate Council and Agricultural Impacts

Ryan Patch, Agriculture Climate and Land Use Policy Manager, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

11:00 AM                   23-0138 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

12:00 PM                   Committee Adjourns

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

9:00 AM                   Working Lands Enterprise Fund

Alyson Eastman, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Elizabeth Sipple, Program Lead, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Charlie Hancock, Consulting Forester, Northwoods Forestry

Danielle Fitzko, Interim Commissioner, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

Tayt Brooks, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Gus Seelig, Executive Director, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

Sarah Isham, Director of Agricultural Lending, Vermont Economic Development Authority

Brian Leach, Owner, Haystack Farmstead

Ethan Gevry, Owner, Gevry Firewood

Levi Irish, Director of Business Development, Vermont Natural Forest Products

10:30 AM                   Break

10:35 AM                   Rights and Democracy Vermont (RADVT) Lobby Day

Ana Mejia , Organizing Director, Rights and Democracy Vermont

Jess Laporte, Land Access and Opportunity Board, Rights and Democracy

Mindy Blank

11:10 AM                   Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain

 Introductions and update

Mark  Naud , Chair, Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain

Lori Fisher, Executive Director, Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain

Wayne Elliott, Engineer, Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain

Bob Fischer, Water Facility Operator, Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain

Hilary Solomon, District Manager, Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District

11:40 AM                   Organic Farmers

Ryan McLaren, Outreach Representative, Sen. Peter Welch

12:00 PM                   Committee Adjourns

Thursday, February 16, 2023

9:00 AM                   23-0760 - An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects

Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

9:45 AM                   SNAP Program

SNAP Awareness Day

Carrie Stahler, Government and Public Affairs Officer, Vermont Foodbank

Johanna Doren, Local Food Access Coordintor, NOFA-VT

Ariana Matthews-Salzman, 3SquaresVT Specialist, Vermont Foodbank

Joie Lehovillier, Foote Brook Farm, Johnson

10:15 AM                   Committee Adjourns

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of the Sergeant at Arms

Elections of Trustees for the University of Vermont and Vermont State Agricultural College

Friday, February 17, 2023

9:00 AM                   Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition legislative day

Abby White, Vice President of Engagement, Vermont Land Trust

Gabby Tuite, Old Road Farm

Mark Lourie, Rupert Valley Holsteins

Julie Curtin, Director of Home Ownership, Champlain Housing Trust

9:45 AM                   Break

10:00 AM                   23-0138 - An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities

Farmer comments on Right to Farm

Bill Rowell, Board Member, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance

Quinn Nelson, Owner, Nelson Boys Dairy

Kylie Chittenden, Vermont Dairy Producers Association member, Richville Farm

Amanda St. Pierre, Executive Director, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance

11:15 AM                   Committee Adjourns

11:30 AM                   Senate Floor

ATTENTION WITNESSES

Please email handouts to the committee assistant at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting time. With few exceptions, any documents you send to a committee assistant are open to the public and may be posted to the committee’s web page.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Linda Leehman at lleehman@leg.state.vt.us