Agencies Unite for Organic Agriculture

(MOU partners from left, front row) Steve Wenzel, USDA Rural Development; Duane Voy, USDA Risk Management; and Brad Moore, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (back row) Al Levine, U of M College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; Gene Hugoson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDA); John Beckwith NRCS; Mike Schmidt, U of M Extension; Perry Aasness, USDA Farm Service Agency; Mark Holsten, MDA (NRCS photo – click to enlarge)

A group of State and federal agencies recently confirmed their commitment to Minnesota’s organic agricultural industry with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in St. Paul.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) joined nine other State and federal agencies and the University of Minnesota to pledge support of this expanding industry.

MOU partners agree to share organic information and resources as well as to encourage and support organic research, demonstrations and field days to showcase production practices, conservation measures, and economic performance.

Organic agriculture is an important and growing part of Minnesota’s farm and food economy.  The partners that signed this MOU want to work together in order to help Minnesota farmer, Minnesota-based business enterprises, and Minnesota consumers make the most of the opportunities presented by this rapidly growing sector.

In 2003, five Minnesota agencies formed the first State-level organic MOU in the Nation.  The recent MOU renews the commitment and doubles the number of signatories. Additional, State, federal and tribal agencies and publicly-funded institutions of higher learning can join the partnership at any time by submitting a joining statement to the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture.
Your contact is NRCS public affairs specialist Julie MacSwain at 651-602-7859.