Minnesota Agriculture - Research and Promotion Councils |
Minnesota Agriculture - Research and Promotion Councils work together with the Department of Agriculture to promote Minnesota agriculture. Under the Commodities Promotion Act, Minnesota's thirteen commodity groups have organized research and promotion programs. Funding is generated through commodity check offs, also known as a promotional order, which directs a small amount of money from each sale to a commodity council. The council then uses those resources to promote and stimulate the use, sale, and consumption of such commodities and to improve methods of production, processing and marketing.
Minnesota laws relating to commodity councils and check off programs were first passed in 1965 and the present generic promotional act was enacted in 1982. Each year, a council will elect a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. Generated funds go to the appropriate council which is responsible for all spending decisions. The Department of Agriculture oversees the council’s contracts, refunds and elections. An administrative services agreement is developed with each council whereby the councils reimburse the department for their services. Check offs are mandatory, but refunds can be requested for the following councils: Corn, Turkey, Dry Edible Bean, Sunflower, and Area II Potato.
Information is issued in news releases and grower/producer publications regarding councils’ issues.
Use the contact information provided to learn more about a specific council:
- Minnesota Barley Research and Promotion Council
Marv Zutz, Executive Director
2601 Wheat Drive, Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
218-253-4311 • 1-800-242-6118 • FAX: 218-253-4320 • mzutz@gvtel.com
- Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council
Karin Schaefer, Executive Director
5469 Highway 12, PO Box 39, Maple Plain, MN 55359
763-479-1011 • FAX: 763-479-1015 • karin@mnbeef.org
- Minnesota Canola Research and Promotion Council
Beth C. W. Nelson, Executive Director
4630 Churchill Street, Suite #1, St. Paul, MN 55126
651-638-9883 • FAX: 651-638-0756 • MNcanola@comcast.net
- Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council
Adam Birr, Executive Director
738 First Avenue East, Shakopee, MN 55379
952-233-0333 • FAX: 952-233-0420 • abirr@mncorn.org
- Minnesota Dairy Research and Promotion Council
Lucas Lentsch, Executive Director
2015 Rice Street, St. Paul, MN 55113
651-488-0261 • FAX: 651-488-0265 • llentsch@midwestdairy.com
- Minnesota Dry Edible Bean Research and Promotion Council
Timothy Courneya, Executive Vice President
50072 East Lake Seven Road, Frazee, MN 56544
218-334-6351 • FAX: 218-334-6360 • nhbean@loretel.net
- Minnesota Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council
Diane Peycke, Executive Secretary
Box 29, East Grand Forks, MN 56721
218-773-1629 or 3633 • FAX: 218-773-1629 or 218-773-6227 • dpeycke@nppga.org
- Minnesota Area II Potato Research and Promotion Council
Paul N. Gray, Executive Secretary
9029 80th Avenue, Clear Lake, MN 55319
320-743-2837 • FAX: 320-743-2062 • pngray@frontiernet.net
- Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council
Tom Slunecka, Executive Director
151 St. Andrews Court, Suite 710, Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-1635 • FAX: 507-388-6751 • tom@mnsoybean.com
- Minnesota Sunflower Council
John Sandbakken, Director
2401 46th Avenue SE, Suite 206, Mandan, ND 58554-4829
701-328-5102 • JohnS@sunflowernsa.com
- Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council
Steve Olson, Executive Director
108 Marty Drive, Buffalo, MN 55313
763-682-2171 • FAX: 763-682-5546 • steve@MinnesotaTurkeys.com
- Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council
Dave Torgerson, Executive Director
2600 Wheat Drive, Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
218-253-4311 • 1-800-242-6118 • FAX: 218-253-4320 • torgerso@gvtel.com
- Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council
Beth C. W. Nelson, Executive Director
4630 Churchill Street., Suite #1, St. Paul, MN 55126
651-638-1955 • FAX: 651-638-0756
MDA Contact
Ruth White, State Programs Administrator Sr.
651-201-6013
|
