Council member & Alternates: Steve Commerford, Dan Schmidz. Grant Anderson, Kevin Kruize, Jeff Pagel, Lee Helgen, Maciej Kazula, Emma Burt, Bev Durgan, Jeff Kosek, Laura Lemke, Scott Barnes, Matt Kruger, Warren Formo
AFREC PIs: Jeff Vetsch, Yuxin Miao, Dan Kaiser, Carl Rosen, Jeff Coulter, Paul McDivitt, Mike Schmitt
Others: Bruce Montgomery, Jack Wilcox, Dave Nicolai, Patrick Murray,
MDA staff: Russ Derickson, Margaret Wagner, Josh Stamper, Commissioner Peterson
August 12, 2024
Grant Anderson, AFREC Chair, opened the meeting with a greeting and introductions of those in attendance.
Bruce Montgomery led a review of the changes to the AFREC statues by the 2024 legislature: sundown clause changes & date(s), AFREC membership changes, additions to yearly research priorities.
Lee Helgen added to Bruces comments and provided insights on the process from his perspective and interactions with Legislator and Senators, MDA staff, and MDA Commissioner Thom Peterson. He went on to thank Bruce for timely communications to the council during the reauthorization process.
Group Discussion – How to partner with other funding resources to better leverage AFREC funding for research.
AFREC Project updates:
- Vasu Sharma – project 86
- Jeff Coulter – project 93
- Yuxin Miao – project 80
Thom Peterson, MDA Commissioner
- Provided comments on the AFREC reauthorization process
- Stated that despite the reauthorization battles, many more legislators and members of the public are now aware of the AFREC program and its benefits
- How additional AFREC council members were added
- Addition of regenerative agriculture and protection of water quality research priorities
Margaret Wagner –reviewed her understanding on how the AFTREC Council would like to fill the vacancies to the council created by the legislative reauthorization of the AFREC statutes.
- Contact 2 listed groups directly listed for their nomination to the council
- Put notice in MN Secretary of State’s Notice of Vacancies to Boards & Councils webpage
- Including an inference to possible conflicts of interest to the appointments
- Expect $1.2 million for next allocation (final number no released by MDA yet)
Bruce Montgomery - provide update on projected AFREC project debt load analysis
- Expected continuation projects $1.147 million
- Estimated available $68,000 for new project grants
Bev Durgan – Dr, Durgan was asked to discuss the impacts of the new legislation will have on university staffing. UofM Extension will looking for:
- Qty 1 researcher in Irrigation
- Qty 3 crops positions
- Qty 2 researchers in Soil Health and Water Quality
- Extension looking for advise and direction for posting & hiring these positions
- These positions need to communicate to other audiences to hear our message
Bruce Montgomery - reviewed the 2023-24 Research Priorities and “other ideas”. The following comments were discussed by the Council:
- The need for establishment of a definition for Soil Health
- Utilizing MDH log information on new wells and correlate to the surrounding farming practices (geo- referenced)
- Aquifer mapping based on initial W.Q. data
- Survey of 500 farm fields to evaluate farming practices (see similar Iowa and Illinois studies)
- Perhaps do a pilot study in SE MN area
- Increased Extension communications to outside of Ag community
- Add “Exploratory” options for Legislative mandates in the $5K-$7K projects
- Literary review of legislative mandates
- Develop packet for new AFREC Council members and provide orientation
- Need short bullet points to share conversational language about all f the current and past AFREC research
AFREC Council took short tour of the Tashjian Bee Center with Dave Nicolai as tour host
Bruce Montgomery & Margaret Wagner summarized input from the Council on RFP ideas and from previous years RFP priorities to produce a draft list for Council consideration. M. Wagner led the Council through the draft list and also enlisted additional input along with what could be removed.
- Council asked that continuation projects be listed (with covered RFP priorities)
Motion by Jeff Pagel, second by Dan Schmitt: “to give AFREC Executive Committee final authority to approve final RFP”, Motion passed.
Chair Anderson announced that he will step down as chair after serving in that position for over seven years. Vice Chair Kruize expressed interested in assuming the chair position but this move needed to be discussed by MCPR leadership. Additionally, Jeff Pagel expressed interest in the position. Chair Anderson plans to stay on the Council for two more years and would help the new chair with the transition.
Motion by Dan Schmitt, second by Steve Commerford: “to defer elections to the December AFREC Council meeting” Motion passed.
Meeting suspended and will be reconvened at the UMORE Farm on August 13
August 13, 2024
AFREC meeting reconvened.
AFREC project updates presentations by: (plot tours at UMORE farm)
- Jeff Vetsch – project 95
- Katrina Fabrizzi – Non-AFREC research
- Dan Kaiser – Projects 79, 96 & 97
- Carl Rosen – Project 89 & 103
Blake Webster, Farm Director at UMORE Farms
UMORE Farm discussion:
- History of UMORE farm area from WW2 to today
- Current farm & research operations
- Future of gravel mining
- Gravel pit reclamation process
Bruce Montgomery led discussion on future meeting and possible dates
- December 9th – Micro Source – Shakopee
- January 6, 2025 grant selection meeting at Farm Bureau Headquarters in Eagan
Traditionally the summer meetings have been held during the 3rd or 4th week of August. This frequently conflicts with the harvest of early season crops such as potatoes and small grains and those members miss the meetings. There was discussion about moving the meetings to the middle to late July.
Meeting adjourned at 12:55 by acclimation of chair
Tour of Pine Bend Refinery to follow meeting. Recently PBR developed the chemistry and equipment to extract sulfur during the petroleum refining process and convert to Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS). They are now a major supplier.
Council member & Alternates: Steve Commerford, Dan Schmidz. Grant Anderson, Kevin Kruize, Jeff Pagel, Lee Helgen, Maciej Kazula, Emma Burt, Bev Durgan, Jeff Kosek, Laura Lemke, Scott Barnes, Matt Kruger, Warren Formo
AFREC PIs: Jeff Vetsch, Yuxin Miao, Dan Kaiser, Carl Rosen, Jeff Coulter, Paul McDivitt, Mike Schmitt
Others: Bruce Montgomery, Jack Wilcox, Dave Nicolai, Patrick Murray,
MDA staff: Russ Derickson, Margaret Wagner, Josh Stamper, Commissioner Peterson
August 12, 2024
Grant Anderson, AFREC Chair, opened the meeting with a greeting and introductions of those in attendance.
Bruce Montgomery led a review of the changes to the AFREC statues by the 2024 legislature: sundown clause changes & date(s), AFREC membership changes, additions to yearly research priorities.
Lee Helgen added to Bruces comments and provided insights on the process from his perspective and interactions with Legislator and Senators, MDA staff, and MDA Commissioner Thom Peterson. He went on to thank Bruce for timely communications to the council during the reauthorization process.
Group Discussion – How to partner with other funding resources to better leverage AFREC funding for research.
AFREC Project updates:
- Vasu Sharma – project 86
- Jeff Coulter – project 93
- Yuxin Miao – project 80
Thom Peterson, MDA Commissioner
- Provided comments on the AFREC reauthorization process
- Stated that despite the reauthorization battles, many more legislators and members of the public are now aware of the AFREC program and its benefits
- How additional AFREC council members were added
- Addition of regenerative agriculture and protection of water quality research priorities
Margaret Wagner –reviewed her understanding on how the AFTREC Council would like to fill the vacancies to the council created by the legislative reauthorization of the AFREC statutes.
- Contact 2 listed groups directly listed for their nomination to the council
- Put notice in MN Secretary of State’s Notice of Vacancies to Boards & Councils webpage
- Including an inference to possible conflicts of interest to the appointments
- Expect $1.2 million for next allocation (final number no released by MDA yet)
Bruce Montgomery - provide update on projected AFREC project debt load analysis
- Expected continuation projects $1.147 million
- Estimated available $68,000 for new project grants
Bev Durgan – Dr, Durgan was asked to discuss the impacts of the new legislation will have on university staffing. UofM Extension will looking for:
- Qty 1 researcher in Irrigation
- Qty 3 crops positions
- Qty 2 researchers in Soil Health and Water Quality
- Extension looking for advise and direction for posting & hiring these positions
- These positions need to communicate to other audiences to hear our message
Bruce Montgomery - reviewed the 2023-24 Research Priorities and “other ideas”. The following comments were discussed by the Council:
- The need for establishment of a definition for Soil Health
- Utilizing MDH log information on new wells and correlate to the surrounding farming practices (geo- referenced)
- Aquifer mapping based on initial W.Q. data
- Survey of 500 farm fields to evaluate farming practices (see similar Iowa and Illinois studies)
- Perhaps do a pilot study in SE MN area
- Increased Extension communications to outside of Ag community
- Add “Exploratory” options for Legislative mandates in the $5K-$7K projects
- Literary review of legislative mandates
- Develop packet for new AFREC Council members and provide orientation
- Need short bullet points to share conversational language about all f the current and past AFREC research
AFREC Council took short tour of the Tashjian Bee Center with Dave Nicolai as tour host
Bruce Montgomery & Margaret Wagner summarized input from the Council on RFP ideas and from previous years RFP priorities to produce a draft list for Council consideration. M. Wagner led the Council through the draft list and also enlisted additional input along with what could be removed.
- Council asked that continuation projects be listed (with covered RFP priorities)
Motion by Jeff Pagel, second by Dan Schmitt: “to give AFREC Executive Committee final authority to approve final RFP”, Motion passed.
Chair Anderson announced that he will step down as chair after serving in that position for over seven years. Vice Chair Kruize expressed interested in assuming the chair position but this move needed to be discussed by MCPR leadership. Additionally, Jeff Pagel expressed interest in the position. Chair Anderson plans to stay on the Council for two more years and would help the new chair with the transition.
Motion by Dan Schmitt, second by Steve Commerford: “to defer elections to the December AFREC Council meeting” Motion passed.
Meeting suspended and will be reconvened at the UMORE Farm on August 13
August 13, 2024
AFREC meeting reconvened.
AFREC project updates presentations by: (plot tours at UMORE farm)
- Jeff Vetsch – project 95
- Katrina Fabrizzi – Non-AFREC research
- Dan Kaiser – Projects 79, 96 & 97
- Carl Rosen – Project 89 & 103
Blake Webster, Farm Director at UMORE Farms
UMORE Farm discussion:
- History of UMORE farm area from WW2 to today
- Current farm & research operations
- Future of gravel mining
- Gravel pit reclamation process
Bruce Montgomery led discussion on future meeting and possible dates
- December 9th – Micro Source – Shakopee
- January 6, 2025 grant selection meeting at Farm Bureau Headquarters in Eagan
Traditionally the summer meetings have been held during the 3rd or 4th week of August. This frequently conflicts with the harvest of early season crops such as potatoes and small grains and those members miss the meetings. There was discussion about moving the meetings to the middle to late July.
Meeting adjourned at 12:55 by acclimation of chair
Tour of Pine Bend Refinery to follow meeting. Recently PBR developed the chemistry and equipment to extract sulfur during the petroleum refining process and convert to Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS). They are now a major supplier.
