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Organic farmers pleased with U of M's announcement Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Agri News staff writer
ST. PAUL -- Organic farmers are hopeful that new efforts at the University of Minnesota devoted to organic and sustainable agriculture are the beginning of more good things to come.
The University of Minnesota last week announced that it will establish a faculty position at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences focused on organic and sustainable food systems. It will make the alternative livestock coordinator position an ongoing position within University of Minnesota Extension and establish a faculty position at Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton devoted primarily to organic crops.
It also plans to establish an organic dairy herd at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris and provide funding for two or more graduate assistantships for organic research and Extension.
The new positions and increased focus on organic and sustainable agriculture were made possible through the increase in the ag special, which passed the Legislature last year.
"We have a number of different projects in organic and now with some of this new money we'll have an increased emphasis on organic," said Extension Dean Bev Durgan.
Andy Olson, an organic dairy farmer from Lewiston, welcomed the news.
"I think there's going to be good things coming out of it," said Olson, a Land Stewardship Project member.
"There's a lot of opportunities for the university to do good research," Olson said. "There's a big need. There hasn't been a lot done at the university level. There's been a lot done on the farm."
The U of M has offered field days and does organic trials. The new faculty, ongoing support for the alternative livestock coordinator and increased organic research will benefit not only those who use organic production methods, but also those considering organic production, Olson said.
It's important to support the growing organic industry, agreed Jim Falk, an organic farmer and seed dealer from Murdock.
"I continue to be amazed at how many organic farmers there are and they're growing," said Falk, also an LSP member. "The trend has completely changed and consumers are becoming more aware of where their food source is and are reaching out to where their food source is."
He praised the recently released Minnesota Organic Directory as a way to connect consumers and producers.
One area of organic farming that is taking off is organic dairy farming, Falk said. He's glad the university recognized the need to provide more information in this area with the conversion of part of their dairy herd at Morris to organic production.
"I believe it would be absolutely wonderful to have that research being done," Falk said.
CFANS dean Al Levine and Extension dean Durgan are also considering the formation of an Organic Advisory Committee.
"I think it's a great start because it's all about communication," Falk said. |
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