Date: 12/10/2013
Final
Department of Agriculture SMART Act Presentation
COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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10:26 AM -- Department of Agriculture SMART Act Presentation
John Salazar, Commissioner of Agriculture, described the Department of Agriculture's Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14 budget that includes an appropriation of $42.6 million and 274.1 FTE. He identified department staff in attendance at the meeting and discussed the major duties of each division of the department (Attachment B). He also discussed flood recovery measures for agriculture including Colorado Water Conservation Board grants for water diversion structure replacement. He identified flood impacts to farms and agricultural lands and discussed the economic benefits of department programs including marketing of Colorado agriculture products and programs to increase exports markets. He also identified the department's priorities for FY 2013 and assessed progress against the strategies outlined in the 2013 strategic plan.
131210 AttachB.pdf
10:45 AM
Commissioner Salazar responded to questions from the committee about net farm income that is estimated to be $1.59 billion in 2013 and he identified income sources that are included in the net farm income statistic (Attachment C).
131210 AttachC.pdf
10:49 AM
Tom Lipetzky, Director of Markets, identified the department's priorities for FY 2013 and assessed progress against the strategies outlined in the 2013 strategic plan. He also discussed the department's vision and mission that are identified the performance plan including consolidation of department offices and creating broader public understanding of the agriculture industry (Attachment D).
131210 AttachD.pdf
11:00 AM
Commissioner Salazar discussed the department's office consolidation project and measures to address the concerns of the Capital Development Committee about this project. Mr. Lipetzky discussed state and federal programs to increase Colorado agriculture exports. Commissioner Salazar discussed the role of the Department of Agriculture and the agricultural community's role in the development of the State Water Plan. He also discussed the role of the State Insectary in the development of biological control agents including the tamarisk beetle that is used to control tamarisk in Colorado river basins.
11:20 AM
Mr. Lipetzky discussed programs to promote agritourism and identified the economic benefits of such programs. He also identified efforts to create broader public understanding of the agriculture industry. Commissioner Salazar discussed efforts to increase State Fair revenue and reduce the fair's costs. Mr. Lipetzky identified strategic objectives for major programs, including measures to control animal diseases and to increase marketing and value-added processing opportunities for Colorado's food and agriculture industry.
11:37 AM
Jeff Stalter, Budget Director, described the FY 2014-15 budget request of the Department of Agriculture that includes an appropriation of $42.6 million and 274.1 FTE. He identified funding priorities of the department including a capital request for $700,000 for eLicense, $250,000 General Fund request for 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs at the State Fair, and a base budget reduction request of $321,558 for the office consolidation project. He also responded to questions from the committee regarding funding for inspections of pet animal care facilities and other programs.
11:50 AM
Ron Carlton, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, described the department's 2014 legislative agenda that includes a proposed change to the regulation of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) at water treatment facilities. He also responded to questions from the committee about the activities of the Food Systems Advisory Council and measures to address food safety.
12:01 PM
Jenifer Gurr, Chief Administrative Officer, identified regulations adopted by the department in 2013 and discussed the department's 2014 regulatory agenda that includes 16 rulemaking hearings to revise existing rules.
12:03 PM
Commissioner Salazar discussed the department's program to regulate industrial hemp production and grants for noxious weed control measures.
12:07 PM
Senator Schwartz requested that members of the joint committee contact her if they want to be legislative liaison for the Department of Agriculture. Representatives Coram, Lebsock, Buck, and Rankin offered to be the legislative liaison for the Department of Agriculture. Senator Schwartz will consult with members of the committee prior to appointing the legislative liaisons to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources.
12:09 PM
There was no public testimony. The committee adjourned.