Senate Committee on Agriculture

 

AGENDA

 

Room 28 and Zoom

February 18, 2025 - February 21, 2025

Last Updated 2/21/2025 10:55 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-agriculture.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

10:00 AM                   S. 60 - An act relating to establishing the Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions

Introduction of bill

Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor, Addison District

 

10:25 AM                   Break

 

10:30 AM                   NEK Day

Representatives of the Northeast Kingdom

Jennifer Carlo, Executive Director, NEK Collaborative

Mark Rodgers, President, Vermont Sheep and Goat Association, Farmer, Glover VT

Matthew Linehan, Sparrow Arc Farm

Molly Willard, Wood Energy and Forest Products Specialist, Vermont Forest, Parks and Recreation

Abigail Long, Executive Director, Kingdom Trails Association, East Burke

 

11:00 AM                   Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance

Bill Emmons, Cloudland Farm

Elizabeth Kennett, Owner, Liberty Hill Farm

Mary White, Fort Waite Holsteins LLC, Vice President, Vermont Farm Bureau

Walter Gladstone, Newmont Farm, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance

Jennifer Megyesi, Fat Rooster Farm

Mike Snow, Executive Director, Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, Post Mills Eggs and Grain

Paul Doton, Dairy Farmer and Board Chair, Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance

Charles Gray, Owner, Four Corners Farm

Guy Crosby, Board Chair, Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, Clay Hill Farm

 

12:00 AM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

9:00 AM                   Farm Inputs

Jonathan D. Wolff, Lobbyist, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC

Michael Heltzer, Director of State Government Affairs, BASF

Stephanie Pizzoferrato, Director of State Government Relations, CropLife America

Margaret Laggis, Lobbyist, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment

Gene Harrington, Director of Government Relations in the Northeast, Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Jon Gaeta, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment

 

10:00 AM                   Break

 

10:15 AM                   Hemp

Introduction to Vilhemp USA

Janet Currie, Co-founder, Vilhemp USA

Travis Samuels, COO and Co-Owner, Zion Corporation

 

11:00 AM                   Vermont Fairs and Field Days Association

Jackie Folsom, Lobbyist, Vermont Fairs and Field Days Association

Chris Vance, President, Caledonia County Fair

Randy Beams, Lamoille Field Days

Tim Shea, Executive Director, Champlain Valley Exposition

Cindy Kayhart, President, Addison County Fair and Field Days

Jason Sicard, President, Orleans County Fair

Robert Congdon, President, Vermont State Fair (Rutland)

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Thursday, February 20, 2025

9:00 AM                   Equine Industry Update

Heidi Krantz, Chair, Equine Industry Committee, Vermont Horse Council - Zoom

Mindy Hinsdale, Member, Equine Industry Committee, Vermont Horse Council - Zoom

 

9:35 AM                   S. 60 - An act relating to establishing the Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions

Vermont Farm Bureau Comments

Jackie Folsom, Lobbyist, VT Agricultural Fairs Association

 

9:50 AM                   Adjourn

 

10:30 AM                   Joint Assembly

Election of Sergeant at Arms and UVM Trustees

 

Friday, February 21, 2025

9:00 AM                   S. 60 - An act relating to establishing the Farm Security Special Fund to provide grants for farm losses due to weather conditions

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

Nicole Dubuque, Chief Operations Officer, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA-VT

Charlie Roy, Claims Specialist, NAU North East

Doug Farnham, Chief Recovery Officer, Agency of Administration

Dr. Roy Beckford, Associate Dean and Director, UVM Extension

Mary White, Fort Waite Holsteins LLC, Vice President, Vermont Farm Bureau

Andy Jones, Farm Manager, Intervale Community Farm - Zoom

Justin Rich, Farmer, Burnt Rock Farm

 

11:15 AM                   Adjourn

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

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

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.

 

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