On Tuesday, Sen. Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) was appointed to serve on the conference committee for the omnibus agriculture budget bill. Sen. Lang will join four of his Senate colleagues and five of his House counterparts in meeting to work out differences in the bills passed by each body.

“I am glad to be a part of the final negotiations,” said Sen. Lang, who serves on the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance Committee. “It is important that rural Minnesotans have a voice in a budget that has a direct effect on the agricultural industry – the backbone of Minnesota’s economy.”

The omnibus agriculture budget was passed by the Senate earlier this month and allocates $220 million in funding over the next two years toward growth in Minnesota’s agricultural industry, workforce housing in Greater Minnesota, and statewide home ownership.

Conference committees began meeting this week and will continue until an agreement is reached. Upon reaching an agreement, both legislative bodies will vote on the agreements before sending them to the governor for his signature or veto. The Minnesota Constitution mandates that this year’s legislative session must adjourn by May 22.

Sen. Lang is in his first term representing Senate District 17, which includes communities in Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in west central Minnesota.