Agriculture and Rural Affairs
The binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on policies related to agriculture, a critical sector across the MLC region. This committee also is exploring challenges and opportunities for rural communities in the Midwest. Its activities include ongoing policy research, agriculture-focused webinars and in-person meetings.
Committee officers for 2023-2024 are Saskatchewan MLA Steven Bonk and Kansas Sen. Marci Francisco, co-chairs; and North Dakota Rep. Paul Thomas, vice chair. Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee.
The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee will next meet in conjunction with the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting, which will be held July 21-24 in Columbus, Ohio. A preliminary committee agenda is now available:
The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Becky Leis.
The committee last met at the 2023 MLC Annual Meeting in Detroit.
In conjunction with the 78th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC) in Columbus, Ohio, the MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee will have a pre-conference site tour on Saturday, July 20; a two-hour policy session, discussion and meeting on Sunday, July 21; a joint committee-sponsored site tour on Monday, July 22; and a joint policy session on Tuesday, July 23.
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Read MoreThis webinar focused on policy and funding opportunities to help expand the use of on-farm anaerobic digesters. It was organized by the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, and led by federal AgSTAR experts. AgSTAR is a collaborative program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture that promotes the use of biogas recovery systems to reduce methane emissions from livestock waste.
Read MoreAn event for all legislators from the region's states and provinces
Read MoreIn conjunction with the 77th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC) in Detroit, the MLC Agriculture…
Read MoreThe Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met in July in conjunction with the 76th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference.
Read MoreAn event for all legislators from the region's states and provinces
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