Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:05/01/2013
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:36 AM to
Brophy
Buck
Place:HCR 0107
Coram
Garcia
This Meeting was called to order by
Giron
Representative Fischer
Harvey
Jones
This Report was prepared by
Lebsock
Brooke Maddaford
McNulty
Mitsch Bush
Rankin
Rosenthal
Saine
Sonnenberg
Tyler
Vigil
Fischer
Schwartz
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Water Resources Review Committee Discussion
Value Chain Analysis Discussion
WRRC Discussion (Continued)		Committee discussion only
Committee discussion only
Committee discussion only

07:37 AM -- Water Resources Review Committee Discussion

Representative Fischer discussed how House Bill 13-1299 relates to the Water Resources Review Committee (WRRC).



07:42 AM -- Value Chain Analysis Discussion

Kathay Rennels, Colorado State University, briefly explained the agriculture value chain in Colorado and outlined her professional background. Staff distributed a booklet on the value chain of Colorado agriculture (Attachment A) to the committee. Dr. Greg Graff, Colorado State University, discussed why a value chain analysis of Colorado agriculture is needed and discussed what a value chain is. He gave a brief overview of the value chain of Colorado agriculture and discussed the impacts of food and beverage retail; the beer, beef, and dairy industries in Colorado; and feed purchases and cost. Dr. Graff talked about field, greenhouse, and nursery crops; energy costs of farming; and farm risk management and answered questions from the committee about off-farm income. He explained the six core objectives of Colorado food and agriculture that were identified as a result of the value chain analysis and the potential for a food and agriculture innovation cluster in Colorado. Ms. Rennels and Dr. Graff answered questions from the committee about innovative crops, plant based pharmaceuticals, opportunities for off-farm jobs that will support Colorado agriculture, industrial hemp, agricultural subsidies, and farm based recreation.

130501 AttachA.pdf130501 AttachA.pdf

08:36 AM -- WRRC Discussion (continued)

Staff distributed several documents related to the 2013 WRRC (Attachments B, C, and D. Representative Fischer discussed potential agenda items for the 2013 WRRC and invited committee members to offer their suggestions. Representative Lebsock suggested that the WRRC might consider adding an agenda item regarding community drought planning that could include discussions related to resources as well as discussions that involve several communities who might speak about how drought affects their community and how lack of drought planning affects their community. Representative Lebsock also suggested that the WRRC might add an agenda item regarding water quality issues. Representative Mitsch Bush requested that some meetings take place in alternative locations in the state besides the Denver metro area to accommodate constituents around the state. Representative Fischer said that the WRRC is limited regarding the number of out-of-state meetings that are permitted. Representative Fischer stated that the Colorado Foundation for Water Education (CFWE) is planning three basin tours this year, but said that he was not sure if the WRRC was allowed to attend both tours.

130501 AttachB.pdf130501 AttachB.pdf130501 AttachC.pdf130501 AttachC.pdf130501 AttachD.pdf130501 AttachD.pdf

08:45 AM -- Chris Treese, Colorado River District and CFWE discussed upcoming tours and invited legislators to attend.

Committee discussion ensued regarding how legislators might be able to attend additional water tours while remaining Amendment 41 compliant and a desire for the committee to receive more detail regarding the South Platte groundwater study.

08:51 AM -- Bob Longenbaush discussed the American Groundwater Trust's November 2012 conference and next steps resulting from discussions at the conference.

Committee discussion regarding reimbursement for expenses incurred while attending water events ensued.






08:55 AM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, discussed recent conversations she had with Senator Schwartz and Representative Fischer regarding the WRRC's attendance at water events during the interim. She also talked about the possibility of a legislative panel at the Colorado Water Congress's annual meeting and the potential for a tour of the Carpenter Ranch.

Representative Fischer discussed the Colorado Water Workshop at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison.

08:58 AM

The committee adjourned.