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Committee hears agency priorities on food licensing, meat inspection and vet workforce as part of ag bill talks
Summary
Commissioner Tom Peterson and staff outlined agency priorities that appear in the Senate bill: food licensing modernization, meat and poultry inspection funding, cottage foods changes, and concerns about the large-animal veterinarian workforce. Members flagged a House rider allowing up to 10% admin costs for grants as a point for further review.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tom Peterson told the Agriculture Conference Committee that both chambers include proposals to modernize food licensing, update grain-storage and grain-inspection fees, and increase meat and poultry inspection funding — priorities the department says would help regulated businesses and improve public protection.
Peterson said the department requests operating adjustments reflected in both bills and that the Senate package includes additional policy language intended to modernize licensing and inspection systems that “help our agency run better.” He noted the Senate carries a larger set of statutory modernization items while the House includes multiple…
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