Vermont Senate Agriculture Committee chair sets tone: focus on farming policy, milk pricing and rodenticide follow-up

Summary

At an organizational meeting, the Senate Agriculture Committee chair emphasized respect and an agricultural-first approach, signaled intent to pursue a milk-pricing framework for dairy producers and flagged rodenticide impacts on wildlife for future work. Committee scheduling and procedural practices were also discussed.

The Senate Agriculture Committee opened its session with procedural remarks and a statement of priorities from the committee chair, who said the panel will prioritize agricultural outcomes over partisan politics.

“I just think it’s a respect thing for the people that come,” the Senate Agriculture Committee chair said, urging members to be on time, respectful to one another and respectful to witnesses. “We are the Senate Agriculture Committee. We’re not a political action committee. We are, as best of my ability, gonna stay away from politics. We’re going to be about agriculture.”

The chair said the committee intends to evaluate bills on whether they are agricultural decisions and whether they serve people who make their living in agriculture. The chair outlined an open process for considering bills: items will be placed “on the…

Vermont Senate Agriculture Committee chair sets tone: focus on farming policy, milk pricing and rodenticide follow-up

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading