The House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock 
         78th Legislature 
         April 21, 2004 
         8:30 a.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E2.010 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on April 13, 2004, the House  
         Committee on Agriculture & Livestock met in a public hearing and  
         was called to order by the chair, Representative Hardcastle, at  
         8:40 a.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Hardcastle; Miller; Brown, Betty;  
                   Burnam; Jones, Delwin; Laney, Swinford (7). 
          
         Absent:   (0). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         The Chair recognized the following witnesses to testify on  
         behalf of their perspective agency: 
          
         Bob Avant, Executive Director, Food and Fibers Commission 
         Jim Hull, State Forrester and Director, Texas Forest Service 
         Courtney Trolinger, Texas A&M University System Agriculture  
         Program 
         Dr. Bob Whitson, Deputy Director, Texas Agricultural Experiment  
         Station 
         Dr. Ed Smith, Texas Cooperative Extension 
         Dr. Lelve Gayle, Director, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic  
         Laboratory 
          
         The Chair then recognized the following witnesses to testify on  
         Interim Charge #1: 
          
         Susan Combs, Commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture 
         Dr. Ed Smith, Texas A&M Cooperative Extension 
         Dr. Neal Wilkins, Texas A&M University, Department of Wildlife &  
         Fisheries 
          
         At 11:40 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Rick Hardcastle, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
         Missy Warren, Clerk