MINUTES 
                                           
                       JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE POLICY 
                               Monday, April 17, 2000 
                                     1:00 p.m. 
                        Bush Presidential Conference Center 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture  
         Policy was held on Monday, April 17, 2000, in the Bush  
         Presidential Conference Center at College Station, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Tom Haywood, Co-Chair           Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister              Representative David  
                                                 Swinford, Co-Chair 
         Senator Steve Ogden                     Representative Bob  
                                                 Turner 
         Representative Robert Cook 
         Representative Jim McReynolds 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Co-Chair, Senator Haywood, called the meeting to order at  
         1:03 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business  
         was transacted. 
          
         Senator Haywood notified the members and those in attendance of  
         the work charged to the Committee:  Develop a sound agricultural  
         policy for Texas by comprehensively studying the condition of  
         agriculture, the state's current programs in support of  
         agriculture, and the role of the state in preserving the  
         agriculture industry. 
          
         Representative McReynolds moved that the Rules of the Interim  
         Committee be adopted.  There being no objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         The Commissioner of  Agriculture, Susan Combs, testified before  
         the committee on the state of agriculture in Texas. 
          
         The Associate Vice Chancellor of External Affairs for Texas A&M  
         University, Jim Butler, welcomed the Committee and audience. 
          
         The following testified before the Committee: 
          
         Jerry Gaston, Texas A&M University 
         Edward Hiler, Texas A&M University 
         Stacy Hoefling, Herself 
  
         Jack McReynolds, Texas A&M University 
         Corey Rosenbusch, Student 
         Edward G. Smith, Texas Agriculture Extension Service 
         John Beverly, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station 
         James B. Hull, Texas Forest Service 
         Konrad Eugster, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory 
         Gary L. Nunley, Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service 
          
         Those registering but not testifying: 
          
         A. Gene Nelson, Texas A&M University 
         Dan Sowards, Texas Department of Health - Food Safety &  
         Regulatory Issues 
         J. Wendell Littlefield, Texas Department of Health 
         Dan M. Wilson, Comptroller of Public Accounts - Property Tax  
         Division 
         B.L. Harris, Texas Agriculture Extension Service/Texas  
         Agricultural Experiment Station 
           
         At 5:13 p.m., on the motion of Senator Haywood and without  
         objection, the meeting recessed until May 31, 2000 in El Campo,  
         Texas.   
          
         ____________________________ 
         Senator Tom Haywood, Co-Chair 
          
         ____________________________ 
         Representative David Swinford, Co-Chair 
          
         ____________________________ 
         Kris Wessels, Clerk 
          
         ____________________________ 
         Courtney Trolinger, Clerk