Joint Committee Committee on Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources (02/22/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	02/22/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	07:30 AM to 08:58 AM	Baumgardner	X
		Brophy	E
Place:	HCR 0107	Brown	X
		Carroll	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Coram	*
	Representative Sonnenberg	Fischer	*
		Giron	*
This Report was prepared by		Grantham	X
	Lauren Ris	Harvey	E
		Jones	X
		Looper	E
		McKinley	X
		Ryden	*
		Scott	E
		Tochtrop	E
		Vaad	E
		Vigil	X
		Wilson	X
		Sonnenberg	X
		Schwartz	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Environmental Agriculture Program Forest Health Report FFA		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

07:32 AM -- Environmental Agriculture Program

Phillis Woodford, Environmental Agriculture Program, Department of Public Health and Environment, explained that the program administers the air and water quality requirements for animal feeding operations. She described the program's responsibilities and distributed Attachment A, which provides an overview of the program's budget. She discussed the program's rule making, enforcement, and compliance activities. She responded to questions from the committee concerning nitrogen concerns in Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as other air quality issues.

07:57 AM -- Forest Health Report

Jeff Jahnke, Colorado State Forester, Colorado State Forest Service, distributed Attachment B, and described the history of the Colorado State Forest Service. He discussed some of the threats to Colorado's Forests including the mountain pine beetle, spruce beetle, douglas-fir beetle, western spruce budworm, and aspen decline. He also discussed the health of forests on the plains. Mr. Jahnke answered questions from the committee.

08:19 AM -- Maribeth Gustafson, Deputy Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service, introduced forest supervisors and staff with her. She discussed the U.S. Forest Service's strategy for addressing the bark beetle infestation. She also spoke about national forest restoration efforts, collaborative forest landscape restoration projects, economic opportunities from stewardship contracts in national forests, and the role of the timber industry.

08:36 AM -- Nancy Fishering, Colorado Timber Industry, discussed the state of the timber industry in Colorado. She also discussed some of the various efforts in Colorado that have helped to sustain the industry including mutual cancellation options. She discussed how market challenges have affected the timber industry.

08:46 AM

The committee asked questions of the panel concerning the spread of the mountain pine beetle, the removal of fuel load, extending good neighbor agreements and stewardship contracts, beetle kill products, and the affect of the roadless rule on the timber industry.

08:56 AM -- FFA

Lyndee Charles, Future Farmers of America (FFA), explained that this week is FFA Week and discussed some of the events taking place this week.
08:58 AM

The committee adjourned.