The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking to fill 15 seats on the Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force (OATF), which was reauthorized by recent legislation.

The OATF advises the Commissioner of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota about policies and programs that will improve organic agriculture in the state.

Minnesota ranks fifth nationally in organic acres harvested, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's most recent census. Minnesota organic producers reported nearly $40 million in sales of organic crops, livestock, poultry and related products in 2007.

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson said this growing agriculture and food sector needs and deserves support from public institutions like the Department of Agriculture and the university.

"More Minnesota farmers are converting acres to organic production and a strong task force will help us make sure our resources are used effectively," Hugoson said. "We need people with a wide variety of ideas and opinions that can help us create and provide programs that will assist organic growers and marketers."

Organic Advisory Task Force members serve two-year terms and must include three farmers using organic agriculture methods, one representative of organic certification agencies, one wholesaler or distributor of organic products, two organic processors, one retailer of organic products, one representative from University of Minnesota Extension, one University of Minnesota faculty member, one representative from a nonprofit organization representing producers, one representative from the United States Department of Agriculture, one organic consumer representative, and two public (at-large) members.

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