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BOARD/COMMISSION:  Seed Program Advisory Committee

Address

625 Robert St N
Freeman Building
St. Paul, MN
55155


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

ENABLING LEGISLATION
M.S. 21.851 (Originally 2020 Minn. Laws Chap. 89 Art. 2 Sec. 14)
Enabled: 07-02-2020
Revisor of Statutes Link

Chair and Contact
CONTACT
Maya Sarkar
(507) 910-2072
CHAIR
Jochum Wiersma
(218) 280-0123
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Staff Contact #1
Michael Merriman
michael.merriman@state.mn.us
(651) 201-6386
No
Board Staff - Plant Health Specialist
Maya Sarkar
maya.sarkar@state.mn.us
(507) 910-2072
Yes
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Chair
Jochum Wiersma
wiers002@umn.edu
(218) 280-0123
Yes
Membership

Membership is defined to include representatives from

1) University of Minnesota CFANS or Extension,

2) Minnesota Crop Improvement,

3) six seed industry members,

4) grain industry members,

5) farmers,

6) other state and federal agencies with an interest in seed, and

7) other members as needed.

Membership will include a representative from the Department of Agriculture.

Member Info

COMPENSATION

  • Per Diem: $0.00
  • Other Compensation: None

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 on the implementation of the Minnesota Seed Law and the responsibility of the seed regulatory program. Evaluate species for invasiveness and make recommendations to the commissioner for the listing of prohibited and restricted noxious weed seeds.

ACTIVITY SUMMARY


Meeting Information
Meetings typically last: 3
Meeting Frequency: Meetings will be held 3 times per year, for approximately 3 hours.

Meetings are held at:
Meetings may occur at the Freeman Building in St. Paul, or at a location in Greater Minnesota.


Fiscal Information
Annual Staff Hours:
Total Appropriations:
Appropriations Description:
Fiscal Year Expenses:

Expenses Description:

Open Positions (24)
POSITION SEAT AUTHORITY 21-DAY MIN GUARANTEE #SEATS ACTION
Advisors USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Farmers In Minnesota MN Corn Growers Association Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Farmers In Minnesota MN Farmers Bureau Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Farmers In Minnesota MN Farmers Union Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Farmers In Minnesota MN Soybean Growers Association Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Farmers In Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Grain Industry Representatives Grain Industry Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Members - At Large At Large Member #1 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Members - At Large At Large Member #2 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Minnesota Crop Improvement Organization Representative MN Crop Improvement Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Other Members MN Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Other Members MN Seed Project Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 1 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 2 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 3 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 4 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 5 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 6 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 7 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
Seed Industry Representatives Seed Industry Representative 8 Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
State and Federal Agencies Board of Water and Soil Resources Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
State and Federal Agencies Department of Natural Resources Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
State and Federal Agencies Department of Transportation Representative Commissioner of Agriculture 6/3/2026 1 APPLY
U of M CFANS or Extension Representative CFANS or Extension Commissioner of Agriculture 6/5/2026 1 APPLY
NAME POSITION APPLICATION DATE
Amanda Albers Seed Industry Representatives 7/15/2025
Doug Becher Seed Industry Representatives 5/27/2026
Garth Kaste Seed Industry Representatives 5/20/2026
Matthew Kelley Seed Industry Representatives 5/28/2026
Zachary Paige Seed Industry Representatives 6/3/2026
Mr. Mark Schmidt Seed Industry Representatives 6/2/2026
Jessica Strinmoen Seed Industry Representatives 5/20/2026
Mr Bob Walloch Seed Industry Representatives 6/3/2026
Sergio Cabello Leiva Farmers In Minnesota 9/15/2025
Hunter Pederson Farmers In Minnesota 11/25/2025
Calvin Spronk Farmers In Minnesota 5/27/2026
Alex Trunnell Farmers In Minnesota 5/28/2026
Anthony Cortilet Members - At Large 12/12/2025
Michael Merriman Members - At Large 12/12/2025
Jochum Wiersma U of M CFANS or Extension Representative 5/22/2026
Kris Folland Minnesota Crop Improvement Organization Representative 9/2/2025
Warren Tuel State and Federal Agencies 5/27/2026
Courtney Tchida Other Members 5/29/2026
Ryan Buetow Advisors 5/29/2026
No pending appointments found.
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Direct Appointments
 No Direct Appointments were found.
Open Appointments (14)
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Advisors
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
Farmers In Minnesota
MN Corn Growers Association
Commissioner of Agriculture
Alex Trunnell
Posted
06/30/2026
MN Farmers Bureau Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
MN Farmers Union Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
MN Soybean Growers Association
Commissioner of Agriculture
Cal Spronk
Posted
06/30/2026
Sustainable Farming Association Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
Farm Organization Representative #3
Commissioner of Agriculture
Sergio Cabello Leiva
Term ends in 24 days
06/30/2026
Grain Industry Representatives
Grain Industry Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Laura Lemke
Posted
06/30/2026
Members - At Large
At Large Member #1
Commissioner of Agriculture
Michael Merriman
Posted
06/30/2026
At Large Member #2
Commissioner of Agriculture
Anthony Cortilet
Posted
06/30/2026
Minnesota Crop Improvement Organization Representative
MN Crop Improvement Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Kris Folland
Posted
06/30/2026
Other Members
MN Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
MN Seed Project
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
Seed Industry Representatives
Seed Industry Representative 1
Commissioner of Agriculture
Doug Becher
Posted
06/30/2026
Seed Industry Representative 2
Commissioner of Agriculture
Mark Schmidt
Posted
06/30/2026
Seed Industry Representative 3
Commissioner of Agriculture
Jessi Strinmoen
Posted
06/30/2026
Seed Industry Representative 4
Commissioner of Agriculture
Kim Alberty
Posted
06/30/2026
Seed Industry Representative 5
Commissioner of Agriculture
Amanda Albers
Posted
06/30/2026
Seed Industry Representative 6
Commissioner of Agriculture
Garth Kaste
Posted
06/30/2026
Seed Industry Representative 7
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
Seed Industry Representative 8
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
State and Federal Agencies
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
Department of Natural Resources Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
Department of Transportation Representative
Commissioner of Agriculture
Posted
U of M CFANS or Extension Representative
CFANS or Extension
Commissioner of Agriculture
Jochum Wiersma
Posted
06/30/2026
ALL BOARDS/COMMISSIONS

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