HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
REP. JULIE ALEXANDER
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
10:30 AM
Room 326, House Office Building
The House Committee on Agriculture was called to order by Chair Alexander.
The Clerk read a letter, dated May 10, 2022, from Speaker Jason Wentworth removing
Representative Sara Cambensy from the House Agriculture Committee and appointing
Representative Jeffrey Pepper to the House Agriculture Committee.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Alexander, Posthumus, Bellino, Rendon, Carra, Garza, Hope, Witwer,
Pepper.
Absent: Reps. Filler, Puri.
Excused: Reps. Filler, Puri.
Representative Rendon moved to adopt the meeting minutes from May 4, 2022. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid the presentation from The Fertilizer Institute before the committee.
Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO of the Fertilizer Institute, provided a presentation on
Fertilizer Markets: . Questions and discussion followed.
The Chair laid HR 205 before the committee:
HR 205
(Rep. Carra)
A resolution urging the U.S. Congress, federal
agencies, and state departments to address the
ongoing fertilizer price increases and shortages
that are impacting Michigan farmers.
Representative Carra testified in support of HR 205.
Scott Swinton representing the Michigan State University testified with a neutral position on
HR 205. Questions and discussion followed.
Angel Jenio representing the Michigan Corn Growers Association testified in support of HR
205.
The following people submitted a card in support of HR 205, but did not wish to speak:
Rebecca Park, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
The Chair laid HR 289 before the committee:
HR 289
(Rep. Meerman)
A resolution to urge Congress to pass legislation
that would allow farmers to petition the U.S.
International Trade Commission to temporarily
waive tariffs on imports of fertilizer and fertilizer
ingredients imported from Morocco.
Representative Meerman testified in support of HR 289.
Gary Parr representing the Parr Farms testified in support of HR 289. Questions and
discussion followed.
John Delmotte representing the Delmotte Farms testified in support of HR 289. Questions
and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HR 289, but did not wish to speak:
Rebecca Park, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
The Chair returned to HR 205.
Representative Posthumus moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HR 205. The motion prevailed
9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Alexander, Posthumus, Bellino, Rendon, Carra, Garza, Hope, Witwer,
Pepper.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Bellino moved to report out HR 205 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Alexander, Posthumus, Bellino, Rendon, Carra, Garza, Hope, Witwer,
Pepper.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair returned to HR 289.
Representative Rendon moved to report out HR 289 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Alexander, Posthumus, Bellino, Rendon, Carra, Garza, Hope, Witwer,
Pepper.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Jordan Jorritsma, representing Senator VanderWall's office, provided a presentation on asking
the federal government to allow farmers, coalitions and trade associations representing
farmers, to petition the U.S. International Trade Commission to temporarily waive tariffs on
imports of fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients imported from Morocco.
Representative Garza moved to excuse Representatives Filler and Puri from the meeting.
There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Alexander adjourned the
meeting at 11:32 AM.
Representative Julie Alexander, Chair
Dakota Soda
Committee Clerk
dsoda@house.mi.gov