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BOARD/COMMISSION:  Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force

(OATF)

Address

625 Robert St. North
St. Paul, MN
55155

Web Site

Supporting Entity/Enabling Legislation Supported by Department of Agriculture (MDA)

ENABLING LEGISLATION
M.S. 31.94 c
Enabled: 07-01-2024 Expires: 06-30-2034
Revisor of Statutes Link

Chair and Contact
CONTACT
Cassie Dahl
(651) 201-6134
CHAIR
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Staff Contact
Cassie Dahl
cassie.dahl@state.mn.us
(651) 201-6134
Yes
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
No chairs or co-chairs found.
Membership
Membership includes: (1) three organic farmers; (2) one wholesaler or distributor of organic products; (3) one representative of organic certification agencies; (4) two organic processors; (5) one representative from University of Minnesota Extension; (6) one University of Minnesota faculty member; (7) one representative from a nonprofit organization representing producers; (8) two public members; (9) one representative from the United States Department of Agriculture; (10) one retailer of organic products; and (11) one organic consumer representative.
Member Info

COMPENSATION

  • Per Diem: $0.00
  • Other Compensation: Mileage

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

  • Requires Older Member - no
  • Requires Senate Approval - no
  • Members file campaign finance and disclosure - no
Entity Powers and Duties, Activity Summary
Advise the commissioner (of Agriculture) and the University of Minnesota on policies and programs that will improve organic agriculture in Minnesota, including how available resources can most effectively be used for outreach, education, research, and technical assistance that meet the needs of the organic agriculture community.

ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Please note: Appoitments are made by the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station; the dean and director of University of Minnesota Extension, and the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences.
Meeting Information
Meetings typically last: 4
Meeting Frequency: Meetings are usually held two to four times per year.

Meetings are held at:
Meetings may be held in various locations, via conference call, or internet connection.


Fiscal Information
Annual Staff Hours: 32.00
Total Appropriations:
Appropriations Description:
Fiscal Year Expenses: $1,992.00

Expenses Description:

Open Positions (0)
No Open Positions
NAME POSITION APPLICATION DATE
Ruth Buck Organic Farmer 3/14/2025
No pending appointments found.
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Direct Appointments
 No Direct Appointments were found.
Current Members (15)
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Nonprofit Organization Representing Producers
Nonprofit Organization Representing Producers
Commissioner of Agriculture
Carolyn Olson
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Certification Agency Representative
Organic Certification Agency Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Carolyn Lane
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Consumer
Organic Consumer
Commissioner of Agriculture
Katrina Heinze
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Farmer
Organic Farmer #1
Commissioner of Agriculture
Ben Penner
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Farmer #2
Commissioner of Agriculture
Ruth Buck
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Farmer #3
Commissioner of Agriculture
Caroline Hegstrom
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Processor
Organic Processor #1
Commissioner of Agriculture
Ben Hinueber
Filled
06/30/2027
Organic Processor #2
Commissioner of Agriculture
Chad Stannard
Filled
06/30/2027
Public Member
Public Member #1
Commissioner of Agriculture
Sharon Hannigan
Filled
06/30/2027
Public Member #2
Commissioner of Agriculture
Rozalyn Maney
Filled
06/30/2027
Retailer Of Organic Products
Retailer
Commissioner of Agriculture
Jack McCann
Filled
06/30/2027
Retailers Of Organic Products Rep
No active seats were found.
U Of M Extension Rep
U Of M Extension Rep
Commissioner of Agriculture
University of Minnesota Extension Marissa Schuh mschuh@umn.edu
Filled
06/30/2027
United States Dept Of Agriculture
United States Dept Of Agriculture
Commissioner of Agriculture
Daniel Mahoney
Filled
06/30/2027
University Of Minnesota Faculty Member
University Of Minnesota Faculty Member
Commissioner of Agriculture
Bradley Heins
Filled
06/30/2027
Wholesaler Or Distributor Of Organic Products
Wholesaler Or Distributor Of Organic Products
Commissioner of Agriculture
Ben Bowditch
Filled
06/30/2027
ALL BOARDS/COMMISSIONS

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